Shangshank has a 'war memorial' :: Moirang also in Manipur has an Indian National Army - INA - memorial complex

Moirang is an important destination in Manipur.

One of the most important World War II memorial sites is the Indian National Army (INA) memorial complex at Moirang.

Located 45 km from Imphal in Bishnupur district, Moirang is also a very sacred place for the Manipuri people. 

It holds an ancient temple of the pre-Hindu deity, Lord Thangjing. 

The flag of the Netaji Subhas Bose-led Indian National Army was first hoisted here on April 14, 1944.

After hoisting the flag, Moirang became the headquarters of the INA in Manipur. The memorial also houses a museum and the complex has a statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Manipur is one of the important World War II battlefields where the Allied Forces fought a fierce battle with the Japanese forces. 

Red Hill in Bishnupur district, nearly 16km from Imphal along the Imphal-Moreh road was one of the major battlefields. Here the British soldiers had fought with Japanese soldiers.

War veterans had constructed a memorial site named India Peace Memorial with funds from Japan in memory of the Japanese soldiers.

Battlefield of Shangshak is also quite important. It is nearly 40 km from Imphal in Ukhrul district. 

Here, Japanese forces fought a pitched battle with British-Indian soldiers in March 1944.

The Assam Rifles has constructed a war memorial named Shangshank War Memorial at Shangshak village and paramilitary forces pay homage to the slain soldiers every year, observing Shangshak Day. 

Blogger with replica of 'original INA flag' : 20th Jan 2025

WAR MEMORIAL AT SHANGSHAK: -

Inscribed on the four sided cenotaph are the words "To the eternal memory of the fallen martyrs" of the 4 Maratha Light Infantry and the 50 Para Brigade. On the other sides of the memorial is inscribed "Martyrs of the royal British army" and "to the brave people of Shangshak". 

The names of the soldiers and civilians are also etched here. The memorial was constructed by the Assam Rifles who have a sizeable presence in Manipur and are deployed to fight the insurgency in the state.

The Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ 10 Sector Assam Rifles of HQ IGAR (South) celebrated the "Shangshak Day" on 26th March 2013 at Shangshak to remember and salute the supreme sacrifices made by the unknown soldiers of allied forces and local villagers during World War II against the Japanese advance towards Imphal and Kohima in 1944.

The day was observed in the presence of not only senior officers from Assam Rifles and Army but also gathering of people from Shangshak and nearby villages to relive history once again by remembering the major events that gave shape for the fall of Japanese attacking forces. 

A wreath laying ceremony was also organised to honour the brave who laid down their lives fighting for a noble cause.

Now 40 Assam Rifles is at Shangshak.