WWII veteran passes away with last wish unfulfilled
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, July 06 2023: Yangmaso Shishak, a World War-II veteran from Shangshak Khullen village in Ukhrul district, passed away at the age of 92 after a short bout of heart ailment.

He was born on January 11, 1931 .

The only son of the war veteran, Shaingam Shishak, informed that his aged father passed away around 9.30 pm on Wednesday.

In an interaction with the press at his native place Shangshak Khullen village on Thursday, Shaingam shared that his father's last and only wish in his life was to recover the Indian National Army (INA) flag which was in his custody for more than 30 years.

"This wish, unfortunately, couldn't be fulfilled," he said and revealed that the flag was taken away by 24 Assam Rifles in November, 2022 on the pretext of returning it two days after but never did.

This flag was said to have been hoisted by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the Harva Khangai mount at Khangkhui village during the war.

Shaingam highlighted at his father's mortal remains that for the last over one year, his father had waited for the flag.

"Father was just waiting for the return of the flag and outlived all his worries for it until his last breath," he said.

He requested the government authorities, and urged them to help him to fulfil his father's last wish and thereby put his father to rest in peace.

Talking to the press, Shangshak Khullen headman Ngazek A Shishak said that he was one of the witnesses when the 24 Assam Rifles under the command of the previous CO Col Tejas, took away the INA flag from the war veteran in 2022 .

"The CO sent his men to Awo Yangmaso Shishak's place to borrow the flag for two days.

It was in my presence that they promised Awo that the flag would be returned after two days but-never did," Ngazek rued.

He recalled -that Awo Yangmaso repeatedly reminded about the flag and asked him to recover the same from the Assam Rifles as promised.

' In his final days, the flag was his last wish that was left unfulfilled.

Now, I, as the headman and a nephew of Awo Yangmaso, earnest appeal to the relevant authorities to help in recov ering the flag," he pleaded. A World War-II memorial was set up at Shangshak Khullen village as an honour to the selfless service of the war veteran.

On Thursday, the mortal remains of Yangmaso Shishak were taken to the village Church to pay final tributes after which the body would be laid at the village cemetery.

Yangmaso Shishak left behind his wife, son and four daughters.

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