Remains of World War II soldiers to be carried to Japan

Three Japanese representatives have arrived in Guwahati to collect the remains of 11 soldiers who died in Second World War. In presence of deputy commissioner of Kamrup (Metro), the digging of graves is going on from Wednesday morning.

It is noteworthy that those 11 Japanese soldiers died in north-eastern region of India during the Second World War. Killed in several battles of the Second World War, the soldiers were cremated in Kohima, Guwahati and Digboi war cemeteries.

In Guwahati cemetery there are a total of 546 graves. Among these, 11 belongs to Japanese force, 24 Chinese, 486 Commonwealth serviceman and remaining 25 were unidentified.

It can be mention here that the Japanese allied force with Netaji’s Azad Hind Fauz crossed the then British colonial boundary and arrived up to Kohima. The Azad Hind Fauz got immense resistance from the Commonwealth force there and several Japanese soldiers died in that battle.

Almost six decades after the war, the Japanese government has sent three representatives after New Delhi has given a go-ahead nod to the Japanese government to dig the graves and collect the remains of their soldiers.

Mrinal Gogoi, additional deputy commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) told TSI, “The digging of graves has started from today morning and it is hoped that the work will be completed within a day or two. The remains will be carried to Japan and re-cremated in their own country.”

He also said that Department of Archaeology and Forensic science laboratory have assisted in the digging process.