Another Indian assaulted: taxi driver comes under attack in Australia

MELBOURNE: 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 yesterday 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 today, 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.