New Delhi, Jan. 2: The Centre today decided to offer whatever assistance Karnataka and Tamil Nadu needed to catch Veerappan.

This could include the despatch of the elite National Security Guards. “We discussed the joint strategy, plan of action and the level of cooperation. The Centre has assured to provide whatever is needed within 15 days,” Tamil Nadu special task force chief R. Natarajan said today after a two-hour long coordination committee meeting at North Block.

Chaired by special secretary (home) Ashok Bhandari, the meeting was attended by senior police officials from both states, army and air force representatives and Karnataka task force chief Jyoti Prakash Mirji, among others.

Although the task force chiefs refused to divulge what assistance they sought from the Centre, sources said they had demanded the deployment of the NSG — who are trained in carrying out operations in thick forests — and air force choppers.