On April 18, 1944 the suicide squads of the INA commander Col. Shaukat Malik broke through the British defence and captured Moirang in Manipur.

It was an emotional occasion for the INA men. They were at last on Indian soil. They had at last driven out the British from a part of their enslaved motherland. Col. Shaukat Malik unfurled the tricolour Indian national flag in Moirang, and the INA formation made a dash towards Imphal. The Azad Hind administration took control of the freed Indian territory.

The advancing INA breached the Kohima road, posing a threat to the British positions in both Silchar and Kohima. Col. Gulzara Singh's column had penetrated 250 miles into India. The Azad Brigade advanced, by outflanking the Anglo-American positions.

The bid to take Imphal was frustrated by the collapse of Japan's supplies and the Allies' total control of the skies. It was at this stage that two INA officers went over to the British side. The deserters not only botched the attack but also gave the British a graphic account of the INA's desperate situation.

The British decision to retreat was reversed, reinforcements sent and air attacks on the INA and Japanese troops intensified to force the hungry and thirsty expeditionary force to retreat.