DAVANAGERE: Eight members of Karnataka’s traditional Hakki Pikki tribal community, who travelled to Central Africa to sell herbal products, are now facing a serious crisis after their visas expired. With local authorities demanding heavy penalties and threatening legal action, the group is living in fear of arrest and has appealed to the Government of India for urgent intervention.
The stranded individuals belong to Davanagere, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts of Karnataka. Members of the Hakki Pikki community have, for decades, travelled abroad to sell medicinal herbs, traditional remedies, and forest-based products. Every year, community groups visit African nations as part of their livelihood activities. However, this routine business trip has now turned into a nightmare for eight of them.
According to information available, their visas expired on December 22, 2025. After the expiry, local police reportedly directed them to pay a penalty of Rs 1.5 lakh each for the renewal of visas. The authorities have allegedly warned that failure to pay the fine could result in imprisonment.
The group members claim they do not have the financial means to pay such a huge amount. Most of them had travelled with limited resources and depended entirely on small-scale sales for their daily expenses. With their earnings affected and no support system in the foreign country, they are now struggling to survive.
Passports and visas seized
In a further blow to their hopes of returning home, local police have reportedly confiscated their passports and visa documents. Without travel documents, the eight individuals are unable to leave Central Africa or approach Indian authorities directly. This has left them completely stranded and helpless.
Desperate for help, the Hakki Pikki members released a video message addressed to the Indian government. In the video, they can be seen pleading with the Ministry of External Affairs to intervene immediately and secure their safe return to India.
“Our passports have been taken away. We have no money to pay the fine. We are living in constant fear of being arrested. Please help us and bring us back to our families,” one of them appealed in the video.
The message has created anxiety among their families back home, who are now urging the central and state governments to take swift diplomatic action.
Community seeks government help
Speaking to the media, Punit Kumar, president of the Karnataka Hakki Pikki Tribal Association from Channagiri taluk in Davanagere district, said the organisation is closely monitoring the situation.
“Eight members of our community are currently stuck in Central Africa due to visa issues. We are in touch with them and trying to provide whatever assistance we can. We have already submitted a representation to Davanagere MP Dr. Prabha Mallikarjun requesting immediate intervention,” he said.
He further urged the Union government to take up the matter at the diplomatic level. “The Ministry of External Affairs must step in urgently. These are innocent tribal people who went abroad only to earn their livelihood. The government should ensure their safe return at the earliest,” Kumar added.
Not the first such incident
This is not the first time members of the Hakki Pikki community have faced difficulties abroad. In 2023, during the outbreak of internal conflict in Sudan, more than 150 Hakki Pikki people from Karnataka were stranded while engaged in herbal trade. The Indian government then launched a major evacuation effort called ‘Operation Kaveri’ and successfully brought them back to India.
That incident had highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by this nomadic trading community when geopolitical or legal problems arise in foreign countries. Despite those experiences, many continue to travel abroad due to lack of alternative livelihood opportunities at home.
