Hakki-Pikki people detained in Ivory Coast released, says forum

Nine Hakki-Pikki people, members of a nomadic tribal community, who were detained by local officials in Ivory Coast, a West African country, for violating rules, were released on Wednesday, according to R. Punith Kumar, State president of the Hakki Pikki Budakattu Sanghatane.Mr. Punith Kumar told The Hindu on Thursday that the group of Hakki Pikki people, from Mysuru and Shivamogga, had been detained for selling plant extracts in that country without proper clearances from the local agencies concerned.“The local administration detained the people. Our organisation brought the development to the attention of the State government, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the NRI Forum in Bengaluru. Following efforts from the MEA and the NRI Forum, the tribal people were released on Wednesday. I