Japanese relics of WW-II handed over
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 17 2014: A Japanese official seal with stamp pad used by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War was handed over to the World War 2 Memorial Foundation of Manipur for its museum by one Phalkhochong Mangte w/o Ngamkhopao Mangte of Thangkanphai village in Senapati yesterday.

While interacting with the foundation members and media persons at her residence, Phalkhochong Mangte said that the stamp pad and seal were the possessions of her father (L) Lunkhohen Chongloi, who worked as a Government employee in Ukhrul during the 2nd World War.

Narrating how the small leather case containing the seal and the pad was in her father's possession, Mangte said, "When the Japanese occupied Ukhrul during the 2nd World War in the early part of 1944, a Japanese officer came in contact with my father who was then working as a Petition Writer in Ukhrul under the British India Government.

Since then, he was working with the Japanese till the allied forces bombarded Ukhrul including the Church" .

During their occupation, the Japanese Army used Phalkhochong's father as a guide and interpreter by providing him a Rifle and uniforms.

However, their association ended after the Allied forces recaptured the town of Ukhrul, she added.

"After the war, all the Japanese goods which were under the custody of my father including a Japanese rifle and bayonet were collected by the British India Government through one Houkholet Touthang.

But he did not submit the stamp pad and the seal, hoping that one day he would meet the Japanese officer again and return the same to him", she added.

While thanking Mangte for preserving the relic even after the expiry of her father and generously donating to the foundation, Letmang Haokip, President of the World War 2 Memorial Foundation said that after a research done by the foundation members, it discovered that the Japanese 15th Army also nicknamed "Hayashi Shkdan" used such seal on all their important documents during the 2nd World War.

Haokip also said that the foundation came to know that the Imperial Japanese Army officers issued a copy of acknowledgement slip written in Japanese stamped with similar seal in red color ink to the Chiefs of Chahmol Village, Tengnoupal village and other village Chiefs as well as to some individual persons of the State who provided assistance to the Imperial Japanese Army during the 2nd World War.

Meanwhile, H Then-khomang Mate of Tengnoupal village in Chandel district also donated a Japanese bayonet, spade, shovels and some Japanese currency notes including a one thousand de- nomination to the Foundation.

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