The Special Task Force, which suffered a serious setback by alienating tribals during their hunt for Veerappan, has now embarked on a programme to befriend them. The drive to seek the help of tribals has taken a new turn with district officials holding special meetings and promising welfare schemes to those who were willing to share any information on the brigand and his gang. The Chamrajnagar district administration, Karantaka, under the banner of Janasamparka, decided to go to the doorsteps of the villagers here to track down the brigand.