Kolkata, Jan 1 (IANS): Condemning the state police for allegedly trying to forcibly cremate a minor girl, who died after setting herself on fire following gangrape, the Congress Wednesday demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Describing the alleged police attempt as "unprecedented and heinous", West Bengal Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya also demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) be called to investigate the case.

The girl, 16, allegedly gangraped twice in October and had subsequently, set herself afire as she was unable to bear the taunts and threats by her attackers. Tuesday, she died of her injuries in a government hospital here.

"The girl was raped, not once but twice. Not only that, she and her family were constantly harassed by the culprits, which led to her death. And now, the police wanted to forcibly cremate her. It is unheard off, it is heinous," said Bhattacharya.

"Why did the police try to forcibly cremate the body? It is obvious they want to suppress facts. So, we demand a CBI probe. The chief minister has failed to provide security to the women of the state and should resign," he added.

The Congress has planned protest marches and human chains across the state to press for its twin demands.

While the girl's father had planned for a condolence march Wednesday, the police allegedly took the body to a city crematorium and tried to forcibly perform the last rites.

"The police took away the body and wanted to cremate it. They even baton charged those who protested the move. But they couldn't cremate it as they did not have the death certificate," said Shyamal Chakrabarty, president of the CPI-M-affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions.

The police, though, refuted the allegation.