<p>Davangere: Over 25 Hakki-Pikki community people from Astapanahalli and Gopanal villages in Davangere's Channagiri taluk staying in Libreville, the capital of the Central African country of Gabon, have been detained by police as the Visa agent who helped them travel to Gabon, indulged in illegal activities.</p><p>These people have been in Libreville for over a year now and carried out herbal trade.</p><p>According to the relatives of these people, the police in Gabon have asked them to pay Rs 2 lakh as a penalty or else, they will be sent to jail. So, they are desperately making Whatsapp calls to their relatives in India to arrange money so that they can return home safely. </p><p>Speaking to DH, Karnataka Hakki-Pikki Budakattu Sanghatane president R Puneeth Kumar said the Visa agent in Gabon who helped these people to travel to Libreville had not done the auditing properly and was accused of indulging in illegal activities. Police arrested him and asked him to reveal the names of those he had issued a Visa. Subsequently, these Hakki-Pikkis were interrogated and asked to travel back home.</p><p>Puneeth Kumar also appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and central officials to pay attention and ensure that the Hakki-Pikkis in trouble return home safely.</p><p>It may be mentioned here that around 200 members of the tribal community from Karnataka were reportedly stuck in Sudan in 2023 when a deadly fight broke out between the country’s army and a paramilitary group. Later, they were brought home safely.</p>
<p>Davangere: Over 25 Hakki-Pikki community people from Astapanahalli and Gopanal villages in Davangere's Channagiri taluk staying in Libreville, the capital of the Central African country of Gabon, have been detained by police as the Visa agent who helped them travel to Gabon, indulged in illegal activities.</p><p>These people have been in Libreville for over a year now and carried out herbal trade.</p><p>According to the relatives of these people, the police in Gabon have asked them to pay Rs 2 lakh as a penalty or else, they will be sent to jail. So, they are desperately making Whatsapp calls to their relatives in India to arrange money so that they can return home safely. </p><p>Speaking to DH, Karnataka Hakki-Pikki Budakattu Sanghatane president R Puneeth Kumar said the Visa agent in Gabon who helped these people to travel to Libreville had not done the auditing properly and was accused of indulging in illegal activities. Police arrested him and asked him to reveal the names of those he had issued a Visa. Subsequently, these Hakki-Pikkis were interrogated and asked to travel back home.</p><p>Puneeth Kumar also appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and central officials to pay attention and ensure that the Hakki-Pikkis in trouble return home safely.</p><p>It may be mentioned here that around 200 members of the tribal community from Karnataka were reportedly stuck in Sudan in 2023 when a deadly fight broke out between the country’s army and a paramilitary group. Later, they were brought home safely.</p>
