Another Indian assaulted: taxi driver comes under attack in Oz

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Jun 1 (PTI) Adding to the growing list of
violent attacks on Indians in Australia, a taxi driver from
Hyderabad was reportedly bashed up by a drunken man here.

The 35-year old victim picked up the passenger in an
inebriated state, from the Chapel street for Blackburn suburb
in his taxi, before being attacked by him on Sunday morning.

"After we reached Blackburn the passenger then asked me
to take him to Ringwood when my taxi tyre went flat. I tried
to tell him I won't be able to take him any further and he
started abusing me," the victim said on condition of
anonymity.

The victim, hailing from Hyderabad, was then bashed up
and punched by the attacker.

"I have injuries on face, leg and hand. I have two
broken tooth as well," the victim, who went unconscious after
the attack claimed.

The man was then taken to Alfred Hospital by the police,
who then informed his family. The man was discharged on
Monday, a family member told PTI.

Police, according to the victim's family member also got
hold of the attacker.

The victim said he did not think it was a racially
motivated attack but an "opportunistic crime".

When contacted, hospital authorities did not provide
details of the victim. There was also no official confirmation
of the incident so far. PTI