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Our Correspondent
Imphal, April 14 (EMN): A 165 feet tall Indian national flag, the highest in the Northeast, would be installed at the Indian National Army (INA) headquarter complex at Moirang in Manipur’s Bishnupur district for which, the pole had already been erected, informed Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh.
Disclosing this, Singh said that union Home minister Amit Shah will visit the state and unfurl the Indian national flag as part of the 100 days action plan. He was speaking at the 78th Anniversary of Flag Hoisting Day observation at INA Martyr’s Memorial Complex, Moirang, 45 km south of Imphal on Thursday.
The CM also informed that the state government had already acquired land for the construction of the new INA memorial hall and construction work for the same had been started.
Regarding the expansion of INA headquarter complex, he stated that the existing area was 0.46 acres along with the house, which was used as the INA headquarter and added that the government is in the process to acquire 2.12 acres of adjoining areas to develop it into a world class INA memorial park.
In early April of 1944, the Subash Brigade of INA along with 33 Division, Japanese army crossed the Indo-Burmese boundary to form the Imphal front. On April 14, the combined force after capturing Moirang, reached the house of Hemam Nilamani of Moirang Konjengbam Leikai and set up the first headquarter of INA in India.
He recalled that 96 Manipuris took part in the efforts of INA to capture Moirang from the British army and hoist the tricolor flag. It may be noted that Lieutenant Colonel Shaukat Ali of INA hoisted the tricolor flag of free India for the first time on Indian soil at Moirang on April 14, 1944.
In his presidential speech, Works minister Govindas Konthoujam recalled that former chief minister, Late M Koireng, Late Hemam Nilamani and other leaders worked closely with INA and played an important role in bringing Indian independence.
He stressed the importance of remembering the freedom fighters, who had played a key role in the movement for independence so that our youth could be imbibed with a sense of nationalism.
Cultural programmes namely Dhol-Dholok Cholom and Thang Ta were also showcased by different troupes during the observation.