'Strict action would be taken against the accused as police have strong evidence against them,' Pandey said.

On Aug 18, a group of students got into a heated argument with railway personnel after they were found travelling without tickets. Following this, the angry mob pelted stones and set fire to two air-conditioned coaches of the train at Bihta railway station, about 30 km from here.

The fire spread to two other air conditioned coaches as well though no one was injured in the incident.

The four coaches that were burnt were worth Rs.3.5 crore (Rs.35 million) as each AC coach costs a minimum of Rs.75 lakh, a railway official said.

Both the state government and the railway police have launched a probe into the incident. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had asked the police to take stern action against the culprits.

In view of the incident, the police have decided to set up a separate control room for the government railway police and the RPF.

Railway sources said that the Bihta incident is the second in three months where students burnt train coaches to vent their anger. In June, students had burnt four coaches of two trains at Khusrupur, 32 km from Patna.

Those accused who are unable to pay the fine will have to undergo a prison term.