Imphal, May 21: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has assured the State Assembly today that a committee would be set up to assess the reported damage of houses and other properties in the pre and post poll violence at Kumbi A/C of Bishnupur district during the last State Assembly elections held in February this year.

Besides evaluating the damages at Wangoo and Sandangkhong villages of Kumbi A/C, the committee would also find out the culprits responsible for inciting and indulging in the violence that left around fifty houses and other private properties including vehicles burnt in addition to injuring scores of people, Ibobi said in response to a call attention motion raised by CPI MLA N Mangi during the Assembly session today.

The Chief Minister further informed that the Deputy Commissioner of Bishnupur district would head the committee and other members of the committee would include the Superintendent of Police, Executive Engineer of Public Works Department, Sub�Divisional Officer and Sub�Deputy Collector concerned.

After receiving the report, the State Government would take up necessary action in terms of giving necessary compensation to the victims and booking the culprits so that such undemocratic activities do not recur in future, he assured.

If necessary, a sitting of the State Cabinet would be convened to act upon it, Ibobi, who is also in charge of the Home portfolio said.

Putting up the motion, the CPI legislator asserted that since the State Government has failed to compensate the loss suffered, the local people contributed money to the tune of over Rs 1 lakh and have procured roofing tins on two occasions recently.

Even though the Chief Minister has given assurance on probing into the matter for giving necessary compensation and pulling up the culprits, the CPI Legislature rued that no official measures have been initiated in this regard.

He urged for giving adequate compensation to the victims and befitting punishment to the culprits in accordance to the law of the land.

Responding to another Call Attention Motion jointly moved by O Joy and Dr Ng Bijoy of the Opposition MPP, Health Minister Gaikhangam assured the House that the Government would soon clear the due salaries of 54 employees of the Family Welfare Department.

To clear the backlog salaries from October last year, the Department has initiated necessary measures to the Planning Department.

Raising the motion, Joy contended that owing to misappropriation of Central fund in the Family Welfare Department, the due salary amounting to over Rs 7 crores would be cleared for 554 employees of the Department.

Quoting news report, Joy said that the exact amount to be cleared for the employees since the October last year to April this year is Rs 55,20,000.Supplementing the motion, Dr Bijoy said salary backlog has been accumulated due to the failure of the Government to streamline the functioning of the Department.

He demanded that action should be taken up against the officials who are accountable for such backlog.

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