Mysuru/Chikkamagaluru: The Karnataka Hakki Pikki Tribal Organisation has approached Chikkamagaluru police alleging that a young woman from the community was sold in Senegal, West Africa, by her parents and is now seeking govt assistance to return to India.The organisation president Puneeth Kumar R told TOI that the woman travelled to Senegal with her parents four months ago, to sell herbal products. “The couple allegedly sold their daughter to a local resident there. She later contacted me seeking help,” he said.He claimed the woman is currently stranded in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, and appealed to the Union govt to facilitate her return. “Her parents returned to India about 10 days ago,” he added. According to Puneeth Kumar, around 50 members of the Hakki Pikki community are currently in Senegal. “The victim is now staying with five members of our community, who are scheduled to return to India on Friday. As they too lack funds, she is seeking govt support to come back,” he said.In a video message, the woman alleged that she was abandoned in Dakar at the house of a man introduced to her as her ‘elder brother’.When contacted, Chikkamagaluru SP Jitendra Kumar Dayama confirmed that police had received a petition. “The petition names the girl’s parents as accused. We will register a case after recording her statement,” he said.An email sent to the Indian Embassy in Senegal by TOI seeking its response remained unanswered till late Thursday.
