A bandh was observed in the town yesterday to protest against the police inaction against the accused in the case.

Directing the CID to submit its report within a month, the Chief Minister said stern action would be taken against the erring officials in case the charge of gangrape was proved.

The alleged gangrape of the trainees had taken place on the college premises in Naugachia on the night of June 4. According to reports, some 20 local miscreants segregated male inmates of the hostel at gun-point and then raped the women trainees. It was alleged that when contacted, the police described the incident as a robbery in the hostel. However, when protests mounted, the police arrested two persons on June 18. They later accepted that the trainees were raped.

While theSuperintendent of Police, senior bureaucrats and Bihar DGP K A Jacob denied it, women's organisations and a fact-finding team of the BJP led by the Leader of the Opposition claimed that the rape had taken place. They charged the local administration with suppressing the facts under pressure from RJD legislator R K Rana, an accused in the multi-crore fodder scam.

There were also allegations that the police were forcing the victims to sign on a statement prepared by them saying no such incident took place.

On the initiative of Divisional Commissioner Hemchandra Sirohi, the case was registered. Sirohi also took note of the contradictions in the police statement and ordered a fresh probe. Criticising the Naugachia SP for his observation that no rape has taken place, he asked how could he reach the conclusion without meeting the doctor who examined the victims.

Meanwhile the women's organisation -- Balatkar Virodhi Manch -- collected evidence during its visit to the college. The Manch has also appealed tothe state human rights commission to probe the alleged rape. The incident has jeopardised the Bihar education project. Only a couple of days back, the BEP project in Darbhanga was postponed due to the trainees' refusal to participate.