Imphal: The Battle of Red Hill AKA Point 2926 a major battle field at Bishenpur district of Manipur of WWII was observed on Friday at Maibam Lotpa Ching, Nambol.
The Battle of Imphal is considered as one of the greatest battle of WWII. Organised by World War II Imphal Campaign Foundation and Manipur Tourism Forum at the Japanese War memorial.
Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi, Takeshi Yagi, Ambasador of Japan to India, Patrick Suckling, Australian High Commissioner to India and others paid floral tributes to the WWII victims.
Ibobi said the World War II was a bloody battle in which large numbers of lives perished. There is a need for preserving the battle sites in Manipur as thousands of soldiers from all over the world died in the battle.
The “Battle of Red Hill aka Point 2926”, one of the bloodiest hand to hand combat during the Battle of Imphal during World War II makes Manipur one of the most important place of WWII .
In Manipur, there are large numbers of WW II heritage sites, cemeteries, museum, memorial, battlefield, airfields, bunkers, trenches. In most of the major battle fields people can still find war relics.
The Battle of Imphal lasted from March to July 1944 between the Allies and the Allied forces which had considerable Indian National Army (INA) soldiers.
The Allies won the battle and the Battle of Imphal is considered as one of the main turning-point battles of the WW II.
The battle was so severe that the Japanese had sustained 53,000 casualties while the British had lost 17,000 men killed and wounded.
Britain’s Royal Air Force played a pivotal role as in the successful defence of Imphal, it delivered 14 million pounds of rations, one million gallons of petrol, 43 million cigarettes and 1,200 bags of mail. (UNI)
