Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said she had no objection to a central agency probing the alleged rape and murder of a PG trainee at RG Kar, departing from her usual political stance that federal investigative agencies are being used to besmirch Bengal.

“I appeal to the student community.... If they feel they have no trust in the West Bengal government, they can approach any other agency, and we have no objection to that. We want this case to be properly adjudicated,” Mamata, also the state’s police and health minister, told ABP Ananda over the phone.

“We have nothing to hide.... I have made it clear that whoever is involved should get exemplary punishment,” Mamata said.

The chief minister said the demands of the agitating junior doctors — a thorough probe, death sentence for the guilty, and improved security — were legitimate and that she completely agreed with them.

Her comments came amid street protests by junior doctors, students, nurses and various other members of the healthcare fraternity. Junior doctors held a cease-work, hobbling services at government hospitals across Bengal except for the emergency departments.

The Opposition, including the BJP, seized the opportunity to attack Mamata on the grounds of lawlessness and the lack of security for women.

Despite her general opposition to capital punishment, Mamata said that given the gravity of the crime — which she described as “extremely inhumane, despicable, and brutal” — she would advise the police to seek the death sentence for the guilty.

“I have spoken with the parents (of the victim) as well. I have instructed the administration to bring the case to a fast-track court and request the death sentence,” the chief minister said.

Mamata’s willingness to allow a central agency to probe a case in Bengal is unusual, especially considering that the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and the NIA have recently arrested several leaders and ministers of her party while investigating corruption and violence in the state.

Senior Trinamool Congress leaders and political experts felt that Mamata’s stance on Saturday reflected her helplessness.

“This is a rarest of the rare crime.... Needless to say, it is embarrassing for the government and more so for the CM as she is both the health and home minister. The spontaneous outrage we are witnessing is justified. She responded like a seasoned politican,” a Trinamool leader said.

“The BJP always demands a probe by the CBI or the ED if anything happens in Bengal. She has pre-empted them.”

Mamata requested the junior doctors to continue working while protesting.

Junior doctors demostration in front of Nationl Medical college& Hospital Emergency gate on Saturday. Pradip Sanyal

A health department source said the chief minister was personally monitoring the case and was in touch with city police chief Vineet Goyal, health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam and other senior officials.

A doctor at a medical college in south Bengal said the movement by medicos across Bengal was rooted in longstanding, unfulfilled demands.

“The junior doctors are not treated properly by the administration, particularly those heading the medical colleges. Most instances of the harassment of junior doctors are never addressed.... Security has been a concern for them at the medical colleges for a long time,” he said.

Mamata reminded hospital administrations of their responsibilities, saying their role would be scrutinised.

“We have set up police camps in every hospital to ensure that no one can harm the doctors. Just as we have our responsibilities, so do the principals and the superintendents of the hospitals who oversee internal security and internal matters. We will thoroughly investigate whether there was any negligence on their part,” she said.

The Bengal BJP said Mamata’s willingness to allow a CBI probe was an attempt to save face.

“After this incident, she has become desperate to protect her image as chief minister, health minister, and police minister of this state. That’s why she has no problem with the CBI handling the case,” BJP Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya said.

“We have seen how the police destroyed evidence in various cases before central agencies took over. In this case, we believe the police have already destroyed evidence and the chief minister knows that the CBI can’t uncover anything beyond what the police tell them.”

‘Encounter row’

Trinamool second-in-command Abhishek Banerjee triggered a controversy by advocating an “encounter” to kill those involved in the alleged rape and murder.

“I feel that a stringent act should be passed in the legislature where, within seven days, murderers and rapists should be killed in encounters. I say this in no uncertain terms. Why will you continue a trial for five, six, seven years?”he said in Amtala, South 24-Parganas. His statement drew criticism.

CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty said: “How can he advocate extra-judicial measures? Is he trying to show his closeness to the BJP by expressing his desire to step into the shoes of (Uttar Pradesh chief minister) Yogi Adityanath?”

The Adityanath administration has been accused of a propensity to kill alleged criminals extra-judicially.

Abhishek’s comments virtually echoed what BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari had said last August -- that rapists should be punished through “police encounters”.