These Bombs Were Planted During World War II. They’re Still Killing People.

“Last week, two brothers in the small border town of Moreh in the northeastern state of Manipur, India, were digging a pit in their backyard when their spades hit a spherical object.
It exploded, killing them instantly.
When local officials turned up to find out what killed Lalsangmuon and Lienkhogin Gangte, they made this discovery: The family had a World War II-era bomb sitting in their backyard for over seven decades, and nobody knew about it.
Over a hundred kilometres away, in the Manipuri capital of Imphal, Arambam “Bobby” Singh, who calls himself a “battlefield digger,” read about the explosion. “I wasn’t surprised,” he told VICE.
Long before the Indian government labelled Manipur a “disturbed area” – rife with human rights violations, military excesses and enforced disappearances – a global war had wreaked havoc on its land and people.
In 1944, during WWII, Manipur was a critical frontier battlefield where Allied forces – made up of Indian and British soldiers – clashed with Japanese troops. Japan lost the decisive battle in Imphal, which tipped the war in favour of the Allies, and thwarted Japan’s plan to invade India.
The Moreh explosion is not just a stark reminder of the war, but reiterates the adage that most wars never really end. In this case, even though the war has long ended, its remnants continue to ravage lives. ”