Japanese apologize for Khurai bombing
Source: IT News
Imphal, April 25 2017:
After 74 years of bombing at Khurai Chingangbam Mandap by the Japanese army during the World War 2, Deputy Chief of Japanese embassy Shunichi Inoue apologies to the victim families on behalf of Japanese army and paid floral tribute to the victims of the bombing.
Deputy Chief of Japanese embassy Shunichi Inoue met the victim families in which he was warmly welcome.
With the apologies for whatever happen during the war, Deputy Chief of Japanese embassy share the grief and sorrow of the families of the bombing where more than 100 locals of the Khurai and its nearby surrounding areas lost their lives.
Reconciliation of the war where thousands of innocent people had suffered and even become the victims during the World War 2 is taking place slowly.
The victim family presented Manipuri traditional dress, known as Phanek in Manipuri, for his wife as a token of appreciation for his visit and for the tribute paid to the memorial of the victims at the Khurai Chingangbam Mandap.
The program was facilitated by Imphal Campaign Foundation WW2 and Tourism Forum, Manipur.
Deputy Chief of Japanese embassy, Shunichi Inoue came to Imphal two days ago to discuss the 20th May commemoration of World War 2 which will be conducted in Imphal and sites where World War 2 took place.
Upon knowing of the bombing incident and reading in newspaper about the last commemoration which took place on April 20, 2017 at the Khurai Chingangbam Mandop, Shunichi Inoue wishes to visit the victim family and laid floral tribute to the memorial.
Meantion may be that family members and relatives of the khurai bombing had observed its 74th Death Anniversary in the mandap where the bomb was drop on april 20, 2017.Kh Nimaicharan, one of the family members who also lost his father on the faithful day had narrated how horrifying the bombing was.
In April 1943, the Japanese Army started dropping bombs at various part of Manipur in an effort to wipe out the Allied forces, unfortunately one of the bombs dropped landed on Khurai Chingangbam Mandap where a large group of people had gathered for a religious feast.
More than 100 civilians were killed on that day, some on the spot right after the bomb had dropped and some scrummed to injuries at the hospital including those who were travelling on the nearby road, he narrates.
The victims family narrates the bombing was one of the nightmare in the history of Manipur as the largest loss of civilian lives in one incident in Manipur throughout World War II.
Being 74 years since the incident, family members and relatives have propose to the state government to preserve the area (mandap) as the heritage site.
A memorial place has also been constructed at Khurai Chingangbam Mandap to mark the site where the bombing took place.
A photograph which was taken immediately after the bombing has also been put up to depicts the destruction which occurred that day.
In recent years, the number of people visiting the memorial has increased due to the rise in tourists exploring the nearby Kohima and Imphal battle sites.
The memorial had the words 'Dedicated to the memory of those Unfortunate Number of Civilian Victims of the Japanese Bombing Disaster that had occurred at this Place of the then Khurai Chingangbam Mandap on the 20th of April, 1943 during the 2nd World War' which the memorial stone was donated by Kh Nimaicharan.
Yumnam Rajeshwor Singh, co-founder of Imphal Campaign Foundation, WW2 also handed over a list of names (around 100 including in and around Khurai and its nearby area till Chingaral area) who have lost their lives in the bombing.
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