Shimla, May 21 (IANS): The alleged rape of a college student in Himachal Pradesh was "totally fake" as the victim denied that any such thing happened to her, Director General of Police Sanjay Kumar said here on Thursday.

"The complainant and the alleged victim have been identified and taken into protective custody. Their parents have told police that there was no truth behind the episode," Kumar told reporters.

He said the rumours about the rape spread in social media after the complainant told the collage principal, a teacher and some of her friends that her sister was gang-raped.

Police on Wednesday set up a special investigating team to probe her allegation of rape and molestation in Dharamsala town.

It also registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and announced a award of Rs.25,000 for providing information about the crime.

Sanjay Kumar said the issue was blown out of proportion and police have started investigations on May 16.

He said the complainant and the alleged victim have given diabolically opposite statements.

Their statements would be recorded before a local magistrate on Friday but investigations were continuing to ascertain the motive behind the episode, he added.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and student groups have alleged that despite the victim's family members asking the college principal to register a case against the accused, no action was taken.