Tudu was killed on Monday night by CRPF personnel in an encounter while Swapan Dasgupta, an undertrial under the UAPA, died in police custody.

The meeting was attended by Varavara Rao, a veteran Naxal ideologue who has flown in from Hyderabad.

“The role of the government in the planned murder of senior mass leader Lalmohan Tudu is shameful,” said Rao. “Swapan Dasgupta was also killed in custody and it was a conspiracy. The sudden launch of the CRPF offensive has a dangerous implication.”

The meeting was held in the students’ hall of Calcutta University.

Representatives from organisations sympathising with the CPI (Maoists) and the Lalgarh tribal movement, including APDR, Bandi Mukti Committee, Matangini Mahila Samiti, Lalgarh Sanhati Mancha and Gana Pratirodh Mancha were present.

“We condemn the offensive launched by the CRPF and state police,” said Choton Das, secretary, Bandi Mukti Committee. “It was a clear instance of a fake encounter. We are contemplating legal action against the state government for killing a senior mass leader in a fake encounter.”

Sujato Bhadra, APDR secretary, said: “It was a conspiracy on the part of the state government. The police have finally started killing senior mass leaders in fake encounters to sabotage the Lalgarh movement.”