The Karnataka Hakki Pikki Tribal Organisation has urged the Central Government to intervene after nine members of the Hakki Pikki tribal community were arrested in Ivory Coast for allegedly selling herbal oil without the required permission.

The nine tribal members, including six men and three women from Karnataka's Shivamogga and Mysuru districts, have reportedly been lodged in jail for the past four days after being detained by local authorities in the West African nation.

According to local police and community representatives, the group had travelled to Ivory Coast around six months ago as part of their traditional business of selling herbal massage oils, a livelihood that many members of the Hakki Pikki community have pursued across African countries for years.

Arrest Over Business Activity

Police identified the detained individuals as Prabhudev, Nirveni, Shahajan, Shanthi, Girish, Lakshmi, Pappu P, Pappa and Simbran.

The arrests were reportedly made after authorities alleged that the group was selling herbal oil without obtaining the necessary local permissions.

Community leaders said the group was detained while conducting business in Abengourou, located nearly 200 kilometres from Ivory Coast's commercial capital, Abidjan.

Organisation Appeals for Government Intervention

The Karnataka Hakki Pikki Tribal Organisation has appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Ivory Coast to take immediate steps to secure the release of the detained tribal members and facilitate their safe return to India.

State President of the organisation, Puneeth Kumar R., urged the Centre to intervene diplomatically, stating that the group has been unable to continue its business and remains stranded in prison.

Family Claims Documents Were Available

Speaking from prison to The Indian Express, one of the detainees, Nirveni, said the group was arrested on July 29 despite informing the police that one member possessed the required business-related documents.

According to her, local authorities allegedly did not consider their explanation before taking them into custody.

The group has remained behind bars since the arrest and is unable to return home.

Traditional Livelihood Abroad

Members of the Hakki Pikki tribe have traditionally travelled to several African countries to market herbal oils and other natural products. The business has become an important source of income for many families from the community.

The latest incident has once again highlighted the legal and documentation challenges faced by small traders working overseas.

The Ministry of External Affairs has not yet issued an official statement regarding the arrests or any diplomatic engagement with the authorities in Ivory Coast.