The Indian Embassy in Paris has issued a safety advisory for Indian nationals living in France and those planning to visit the country, urging them to remain vigilant and avoid protest sites and crowded areas amid violent demonstrations and localised curfews.
In an advisory issued on Wednesday evening, the embassy asked Indian citizens to exercise caution in view of the recent developments and follow instructions issued by French authorities.
“In view of the recent developments and localised curfews imposed in France, please remain vigilant and exercise due caution,” the advisory stated.
The embassy also urged Indians to stay away from areas where demonstrations are taking place and monitor official channels for updates on possible disruptions to transport services across French cities.
Indian nationals requiring emergency assistance can contact the Embassy of India in Paris at +33 6 48 34 00 63 or email cons.paris@mea.gov.in.
Indian Embassy in Italy Issues Similar Advisory
The advisory from Paris follows a similar warning issued by the Indian Embassy in Italy earlier this week amid protests over the rising cost of living and concerns about public services.
In its advisory released on Monday, the embassy urged Indian nationals to avoid crowded places and areas where demonstrations were taking place, exercise caution and follow local news for updates.
Protests in France Turn Violent
France has witnessed a fresh wave of unrest over concerns about the cost of living, declining public services and the state of education. Demonstrations in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities have reportedly escalated into incidents of looting, arson and clashes with police.
High school students have raised concerns over inadequate school funding, poor facilities and staff shortages, particularly in lower-income neighbourhoods. Students have also criticised long school days, often running from 8 am to 6 pm, and questioned the complexity and fairness of the university admissions system.
Although France has experienced two consecutive nights of relative calm following the weekend's unrest, curfews remain in force in parts of several major cities, including limited areas of Paris.
Further demonstrations were planned for Thursday and Saturday, following calls from student unions and groups associated with the Yellow Vest movement. The movement triggered widespread unrest in 2018 and 2019 over fuel prices and the cost of living.
Paris police announced on Wednesday that a protest planned for Thursday in the French capital would be prohibited, citing public safety concerns and the risk of property damage.
France Steps Up Security Measures
French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Wednesday that 174 of the 2,500 people detained during and after the protests had been jailed, while another 917 had been formally prosecuted.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also met union representatives on Wednesday and announced plans for a “massive” security operation on Saturday. The operation aims to prevent a recurrence of the violence attributed to small groups of rioters and address security gaps exposed during the unrest.