Patna: A ruling RJD (Rashtriya Janata Party) minister's raising a private Army of toughs to tackle criminals in his Assembly constituency in Bihar's West Champaran district has touched off criticism by Opposition leader and possibility of legal action by the District Magistrate.

The minister Rajesh Singh's private Army, christened 'Fighter Group', has 40 members all armed to the teeth and who are subjected to regular exercise and provided training to handle sophisticated arms by the minister and others.

''The group has been formed to take on the might of criminals, provide security and instil confidence among common people in Dhanha Assembly constituency,'' Singh, the Minister of State for transport, said.

The Minister, who recently left the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and joined the RJD, has a traditional rivalry with a notorious dacoit of the area, Basudeo Yadav.

However, Deputy Inspector-General of police, Tirhut range, S K Bhardwaj told on phone from Bettiah today that he had directed West Champaran superintendent of police to inquire into the antecedents of the members of the private Army.

West Champaran district magistrate Rahul Singh said, ''If it is a private Army with 'unlawful objectives', suitable legal action would be initiated.'' Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Upendra Kushwaha and State BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) chief Gopal Narayan Singh criticised the State Government for the raising of a private Army by a minister and said this was enough to prove that the law and order situation in the state under the RJD regime had touched its nadir. They demanded a detailed probe into the matter.