New Delhi: Criticising the CPI-M led government in West Bengal for its handling of the Maoist problem in Lalgarh, JMM leader Shibu Soren Tuesday termed the operations as a “plan to kill innocent tribals.”

The tribal leader, whose party is an ally of the ruling UPA at Centre, also felt that the Central government’s decision to ban CPI-Maoist and declare it a terrorist outfit would not serve any purpose.

“This problem is neither going to be solved with lathis and guns nor would banning it solve the issue. What will you do when the unemployed take to arms and come to streets, the problem needs a different approach,” Soren told PTI.

Faulting the CPI-M’s line of action over the issue, Soren said, “CPI-M pretends to be the messiah of the poor to take their votes but innocent tribals living in forests are being harassed in West Bengal.”

“The Left party has an armoury wing which moves in villages. On the contrary tribals, who do not carry any arms are being charged with being in league with naxals,” he alleged.

He said such policies lead to the rise of naxalism when innocents are harassed adding that similar things are happening in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattishgarh.

To a question how the issue of Lalgharh should be addressed, Soren said, “There should be talk with tribals living in Lalgarh in a cordial atmosphere.”