Construction workers in Manipur’s Imphal West district uncovered a trove of World War 2 relics on Tuesday morning while digging in Langthabal, officials reported. Found four feet underground, the items include rusted empty cases, water bottles, a grenade, shells, spades, and tin cans, believed to be remnants from Allied forces during the 1944 Battle of Imphal.

The artifacts, likely left behind by soldiers camped at nearby Canchipur hills, offer a glimpse into the historic clash where Allied troops repelled Imperial Japan’s advance into British India. The Battle of Imphal, alongside the Battle of Kohima, marked a turning point, with over 54,000 Japanese and 12,000 Allied casualties.

These decisive engagements halted Japan’s invasion, shaping the course of the war.

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