An Indian traveller has claimed that he was mistreated by officials at the Indian Embassy in Rome, Italy. The individual, Jaydip Lakhankiya, alleged that he was asked to leave the embassy premises while trying to communicate with staff about his journey focused on climate awareness. He is undertaking a long-distance walk from Malta to India, which spans approximately 12,000 kilometres.

The allegations were shared through a video on Instagram, where Lakhankiya explained the circumstances of the incident. In the video, he could be seen being escorted out of the building by security personnel following a conversation with an embassy representative.

Lakhankiya stated that he reached out to the Indian Embassy of Italy after travelling over 1,500 kilometres, but reportedly faced a lack of response to his attempts to connect for four months. According to him, the situation escalated after he publicly shared his experiences with the embassy.

Positive Responses from Other Embassies

Throughout his journey, Lakhankiya indicated that he received support and positive responses from various other embassies he visited. He noted, “Since arriving in Rome, I have met with various embassies… I have received a very positive response from the embassies of every country I intend to travel through.”

In addition to his claims about the Indian Embassy, he mentioned that he had conducted more than 50 interviews and interacted with Indian students in Rome, who reportedly expressed concerns about the responsiveness of the embassy.

Describing the alleged confrontation, Lakhankiya claimed that upon making a video addressing the situation, he was approached by multiple individuals demanding he delete the recording. He characterised their behaviour as rude and accusatory towards him and his companions.

Embassy’s Response to Allegations

The Indian Embassy in Italy has issued a statement via its official X account, refuting Lakhankiya’s claims and labelling them as “false and fabricated.” The embassy maintains that its officials were willing to engage with him, but he did not comply with standard security protocols when requested.

The embassy’s statement specified that Lakhankiya allegedly failed to present identification or a passport, which is generally required for visitors. It further emphasised that the embassy adheres to established security procedures and remains dedicated to serving Indian nationals, noting that it engages regularly with the Indian community.

This incident has sparked an online discussion about the interaction between Indian citizens and embassies abroad, as well as the standard security measures in place. Both parties have presented differing accounts of the situation, leading to heightened awareness of the challenges faced by nationals when abroad.

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