Hakki-Pikki people from Karnataka detained in Ivory Coast
There have been several cases of Hakki Pikki people landing in trouble in foreign lands in recent days. The community leader appeals people to take necessary permissions before doing trade in foreign lands.
A group of nine Hakki-Pikki tribal people from the Indian state of Karnataka are currently detained in the West African country of Ivory Coast. The individuals, who include three women and families from Shivamogga and Hunsuru in Mysuru district, were apprehended for selling plant extracts without the necessary permits. R. Punith Kumar, the State president of Hakki-Pikki Budakattu Sanghatane, a forum representing the tribal community, has appealed to the Indian Union government and the Ministry of External Affairs to secure their early release.
This is not the first time Hakki-Pikki people have faced such issues; in July, a group from Pakshirajapura in Hunsur taluk were prevented from returning home to Fiji for not paying taxes on their earnings. Earlier in June, three members were stranded in Mozambique after being misled by a local agent, who assured them of necessary documentation for staying in the country.
In February, a group from Sadashivapura in Shivamogga taluk were detained by authorities in Tumu, Ghana. The Hakki-Pikki community, known for their nomadic lifestyle and travels across Hassan, Shivamogga, Mysuru, Davanagere, and other regions, often find themselves in trouble due to unawareness of trade restrictions in foreign lands.
Punith Kumar has urged the community to obtain proper approvals for trade and respect the laws of the land. He also called for greater awareness and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
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