Mysuru, Oct 8: Three youths from Karnataka have been arrested in Mozambique for overstaying their visa and trying to bribe local officials to be part of the plan.
The youths – indemnified as Sijju, Praveen and Madhusudan – belong to Hakki Pikki community, a nomadic tribe, from Pakshirajapura village in Hunsur taluk of Mysuru district.
The youths reportedly went to Nampula, a province in the southeastern African nation, six months ago to sell herbal products. They were arrested three months ago, but there is little information about them, local authorities said.
The trio joined a group of 13 people – including nine women – to go to Nampula who had gone to the southeast African country. Thirteen of the members returned to Pakshirajapura, part of Ummattur gram panchayat, when the visa expired. “But the three youths allegedly tried to overstay by paying a bribe to the local authorities,” said a source.
Hunsur police inspector Poovaiah said he came to know of the trio from other members of the community. “They haven’t lodged any complaint. We haven’t received intimation from other agencies either,” he said.
“They travelled all the way to Nampula town six months ago,” the source said. Shivashankar, gram panchayat member of Pakshirajapura, said: “I am trying to locate their families first.”
“Hakki Pikki youths from Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Shivamogga and surrounding areas often travel to African and European countries. They stay in India for six months and collect herbal medicines which are in demand. Later, they travel around the globe to sell them. They have gained the skill of marketing their products in those countries which are mostly very remote and without knowledge of English. These three members must be part of a similar group,” said a community member from Hunsur.
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