A routine morning at a construction site in Manipur’s Imphal West took an unexpected turn on Tuesday as workers unearthed a cache of military relics believed to be from the Second World War. The discovery was made at Langthabal, close to Canchipur hills, ground once fiercely defended by Allied troops during the 1944 Battle of Imphal.
Officials said the relics were found nearly four feet underground. Among the items recovered were rusted shell cases, tin cans, water bottles, spades, and even a hand grenade. The artefacts are suspected to have belonged to Allied forces stationed in the region during one of the most decisive battles of the Burma Campaign.
“The area was once home to a major Allied military camp. These objects appear to be wartime remnants, likely abandoned or buried as the war moved forward,” said an official who oversaw the recovery operation.
The Battle of Imphal, fought alongside the Battle of Kohima, marked a critical point in halting the advance of the Imperial Japanese Army into the Indian subcontinent. Both battles are widely acknowledged as turning points in the Allied effort to repel Japanese incursions in the Southeast Asian theatre.
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Located at the edge of the Imphal Valley, the Canchipur hills served as a strategic position for British-led Allied troops. The terrain was fiercely contested, with Japanese and Indian National Army (INA) soldiers attempting to breach the valley from multiple directions.
The battle resulted in staggering casualties. Over 54,000 Japanese soldiers were reported dead or wounded, while Allied losses crossed 12,000. The confrontation was not just a military engagement, but also a chapter that underlined the tactical resilience of Allied forces in adverse terrain and weather conditions.
The items found on Tuesday are expected to be sent for further examination. Authorities are likely to involve military historians and conservationists to confirm their provenance and consider preservation methods.
“This site may offer new insights into troop movement and battlefield logistics. It’s a significant find, particularly for those studying the Eastern theatre of World War II,” said a local historian familiar with the 1944 campaign.
While accidental discoveries of war remnants are not uncommon in Manipur, such caches offer a tangible link to the region’s pivotal wartime role, a legacy often overshadowed by narratives centred in Europe and the Pacific.
Locals have been advised to avoid the area until officials confirm that there is no further threat from unexploded ordnance.
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