‘Remain vigilant’: Indian Embassy issues travel advisory for France amid violent protests, curfews | What we know

On Wednesday, the Indian Embassy in France issued a travel and safety advisory for Indian nationals residing in or traveling to the country, urging them to remain vigilant due to violent clashes tied to protests over rising living costs. The embassy cautioned against visiting crowded areas and locations with demonstrations, citing curfews and possible disruptions to road travel and public transport following riots on October 17.

The advisory comes ahead of more demonstrations scheduled for October 24, with French authorities deploying military personnel from Operation Sentinelle to support security.

The embassy advised Indians to avoid large gatherings and heed local French authorities' instructions, while monitoring local news and official updates. Demonstrations initially began over poor school conditions and teacher shortages but broadened to cover rising living costs, high fuel prices, proposed public-sector budget cuts, and dissatisfaction with the Macron administration. While many protests have been peaceful, violence has erupted, leading to security measures.

The Indian Embassy provided emergency contact details for nationals needing assistance and advised them to check transport updates from airlines or travel agencies. French authorities have imposed targeted curfews in some cities, and activists have vowed to prevent a repeat of the violence during the upcoming demonstrations. President Macron stated that the government was determined to maintain order, while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said curfews had helped maintain calm overnight.