Imphal: Manipur on Sunday observed the 83rd anniversary of the Japanese air raid at Khurai Chingangbam Mandop in Imphal, which claimed over 100 civilian lives during World War II.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh led the homage at a programme held at the Multipurpose Hall in Khurai Thangjam Leikai in Imphal East. Floral tributes were offered in the presence of Minister Kh. Loken Singh and MLA Th. Arunkumar Singh.
The air raid on April 20, 1943, struck a religious gathering at Khurai, resulting in heavy civilian casualties. Some accounts suggest the toll may have approached 200, making it one of the deadliest incidents in Manipur during the war.
In a message shared on social media, the Chief Minister said he paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the bombing, recalling their sacrifice with “deep respect and reverence”. He noted that the air raids marked the first direct experience of war for the people of Manipur and remain a significant chapter in the state’s history.
Manipur was a key theatre in the Burma Campaign during World War II, witnessing intense fighting as Japanese forces, along with the Indian National Army, advanced towards India under the “U Go Offensive”. The campaign culminated in the Battle of Imphal and the Battle of Kohima in 1944, widely regarded as turning points in the Allied defence of India.
The war left a lasting imprint on the region, with widespread displacement and hardship among civilians. In Manipur, the conflict is remembered locally as “Japan Lan”, and efforts continue to preserve war heritage sites and commemorate those who lost their lives.