Khurai Thangjam Leikai Memorial, Imphal, Manipur
In April 1943, the Imperial Japanese Army started dropping bombs on the state of Manipur in an effort to deter Allied forces. One of the bombs dropped landed on a Mandap (a temporary structure used for celebrations throughout India) where a large group of people had gathered for a religious feast. It is thought 90 civilians were killed that day - the largest loss of civilian lives in one incident in Manipur throughout World War II.
A small memorial has been constructed at Khurai Thangjam Leikai to mark the site where the attack took place. Nearby inside a local hall, a photograph that was taken immediately after the bombing depicts the destruction that 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. On one side of the memorial are the words ‘To the eternal memory of the fallen martyrs of the 4 Maratha Light Infantry and the 50 Para Brigade’, whilst on the other side are the words ‘Martyrs of the Royal British Arm and to the brave people of Shangshak’.