As per British documents Battle of Khongjom was fought on April 25, 1891 – Rajeshwor

Imphal, April 19: Amid differences of opinion to the date of Khongjom Day – the day the people of the state observed to commemorate the battle of Khongjom fought between the British and Manipuri soldier, Rajeshwor Yumnam, Co-Founder of IInd World War Imphal Campaign Foundation said that as according to the London Gazette, Published on 14th August 1891, the battle was fought on April 25 and not on April 23.
Speaking exclusively to Imphal Times Rajeshwor said that the column of British soldiers concentrated at Tamu on the  April 21, and advanced towards Manipur on the April 23 as according to the British documents. This showed that the battle of Khongjom was not fought on April 23, the World War II researchers said.
In the book My Three Years in Manipur; And Escape from the Recent Mutiny , Ethel Grimwood has copied a passage from the war diary written by Major Grant which read as – “On the 25th I went out from Palel with fifty my men, Sikhs, fifty our Mounted Infantry under Cox, and fifty 2nd-4th Ghoorkas, the whole under Drury, of 2nd-4th Ghoorkas. We had orders only to reconnoitre enemy’s position, not to attack, as remainder were to arrive that morning”.
In the London Gazette, Published on 14th August 1891, It is mentioned that Captain Presgrave  occupied Palel, where he was joined subsequently by Major Sir Charles Leslie, with the 2-4th Gurkha Regiment, and this place was held as the advanced position till the  arrival of the remainder of the Tamu Column  on the 25th April, 1891.  So when the whole Column of Tamu reach Palel on 25th How can they fought at khongjom on 23rd April, Rajeshwor added.
Quoting from Official document No. 375-M—” Field Operations—Manipur,”—dated Simla, 11th June, 1891, Rajeshwor said that On the 25th April an advanced reconnoitering party from the Tamu Column encountered a considerable number of Manipuris strongly posted near the village of Bapam. On the arrival of   a reinforcement of 200 .Rifles and two mountain guns under Captain P. M. Randall, 4th Gurkha Rifles, the position was stormed and carried after   an obstinate hand-to-hand combat with a loss of one Native officer and one sepoy killed, and four British officers,* two Native officers, two non commissioned officers, and five sepoys wounded. A report by Captain Rundall of this brilliant affair is attached for the information of Government”.
He said that as per the above passage, the British mountain gun arrived on 25th. There is mentioned in the folklore of meeties that the British fought with Paona Brajabasi’s team with mountain gun/ tops. Therefore our forefathers were mentioning the battle of April 25, 1891.