New Delhi, Nov. 23 :    New Delhi, Nov. 23:  The Centre today promised all assistance, including logistic support, to the Special Task Force (STF) as it prepared to relaunch operations against poacher-turned-sandalwood smuggler Veerappan. Echoes of the Veerappan issue rang out in the Lok Sabha today with ADMK members alleging that Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi had links with the forest brigand. They demanded his dismissal not only for his nexus with Veerappan, but also with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). This sparked verbal duels with the DMK members. Parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan pacified both groups, saying he would convey their sentiments to the home minister. At a meeting with L.K. Advani, senior Tamil Nadu officials, including the chief secretary and home secretary, agreed to restart operations in the forests along with Karnataka. They made a brief presentation to the home minister and assured that the Karunanidhi government will take all steps to nab Veerappan at the earliest. Later, the team met senior home ministry officials and discussed operational matters. Advani was happy that the Tamil Nadu government, which had earlier dithered on taking action against Veerappan, had realised the sensitivity of the matter and turned round to begin operations. The home minister is learnt to have promised all help and assistance, including intelligence inputs on the whereabouts of Veerappan, but sent across the firm message that the operation will have to be carried out by the joint Tamil Nadu-Karnataka STF. Even as the Karunanidhi government agreed to take action against Veerappan, Karnataka was raring to go after the forest brigand. In fact, chief minister S.M. Krishna announced in the Assembly on Tuesday that his government had appointed H.T. Sangliana, a daring police additional director-general, to head the STF. At the Tamil Nadu end, V. Balachandran, an officer of the inspector-general rank, heads the force. He is also assisted by a superintendent of police. Bowing to public pressure, Karunanidhi had said a couple of days ago that his government would resume operations in Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri and the Nilgiris, areas in the state where Veerappan operates and wields influence. His gang is active in 204 villages, covering about 5,600 square km. In Karnataka, the sandalwood smuggler is active in Mysore and Chamrajnagar.