As many as 24 Hakki Pikki people from Sadashivapura near Shivamogga were stranded in Ghana during their visit to sell herbal products. Their family members and relatives in the village are worried. | Photo credit: SK Dinesh
Gundsala, an elderly woman from the Hakki Pikki tribal community, settled in Sadashivapura near Shivamogga, is worried. Her son Lakkhan and her daughters-in-law Milli and Shirish were in African countries for the past four months selling herbal products. Neighbors informed her that her family members were among 24 people from the village being detained in Ghana after local authorities took them into custody. Two people from Gopanal in Channagiri taluk of Davangere district are also with them.
“I’m here taking care of my four school-going grandchildren,” she said. When asked about the purpose of her children’s visit to foreign countries, the woman said that there they would sell oil extracted from plants and also offer massage services. “Not only my children, but many people from the village have been to different countries. They travel for a few months and then come back,” Gundsala said.
Earlier this week, Sissala East Municipal authorities, following a complaint by residents of Tumu, Ghana, arrested 26 people on charges of selling unregistered herbal products. The individuals allegedly did not have permission from the Food and Drug Administration to sell their products, which they claim have medicinal value. Punith Kumar R., state president of Hakki Pikki Budakattu Sanghatane, a forum for indigenous people, told The Hindu that he received information about the arrest through social media accounts active in Ghana.
He later contacted them by phone and learned about their whereabouts. He also requested Member of Parliament from Davanagere Prabhu Mallikarjuna for the safe release of the tribal people. “Our people travel to faraway places to sell their products. Some countries have strict rules on the sale of herbal extracts. I was told that the local authorities considered their request and decided to release them. However, they refused to return the confiscated goods,” he said. Prabhu Kishan, a native of Sadashivapura, told The Hindu on phone during his visit to Ghana that he and 25 other people were in the custody of local authorities. “We were released yesterday (Thursday) but were stopped again for verification of our documents,” he said.
Loan
Hakki Pikki people are settled in various places including Davangere, Shivamogga, Mysuru and Hassan districts. They travel to different countries to sell hair oils and herbal medicinal products. They spend several months in these countries every year and return home with a decent income.
When Hindus visited Sadashivapura on Friday, many residents mentioned that several of their relatives had traveled to different places. Jaikirthi, a member of B. Beeranahalli Gram Panchayat, said five members of his family were on foreign visits. Similarly, an elderly woman, Lallu Bai, said five members of her family, including her two grandchildren, had gone abroad 15 days ago. “I don’t know which country they went to. They were bringing hair oil and other products to the market there,” she said. When asked when she would return, the woman replied that she would return in a year. “They cannot come back soon because they planned their foreign visits by borrowing from private lenders at high interest rates. They have to repay the loan and earn extra,” said the lady. A few years ago, her late husband Balaraju also visited Dubai and several other countries for the same purpose.
Another woman, Mahadevi, returned to Sadashivapura three days ago after a trip to Ghana and Nigeria with her husband Giribabu. The couple traveled to many countries. “We mainly sell hair oil and other medicinal plant extracts that cure body aches. During our visits, we wander around different streets to sell our products, somehow we manage to communicate the quality of the product and sell them,” said Mahadevi, who never went to school.
Published – 20 Feb 2026 20:39 IST