Two Indian cabbies attacked in Australia

Ballarat, Jan 17: Two Indian taxi drivers were attacked on Saturday night, Jan 16 in Ballarat, a media report said on Sunday, Jan 17.

According to The Age report, in two separate incidents in Victoria's Ballarat, four passengers attacked an Indian driver, while another was threatened with a knife.

The first incident reportedly occurred on Friday midnight, Jan 15, when the four passengers suddenly engaged the handbrakes.

"Then they played with the gear lever, spat at the driver and verbally abused him. One of them also punched the victim on the head a number of times," the report said.

Police said the driver was injured in his face and upper body. He was rushed to Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital.

The second cabbie victim, who is also a student, was threatened by two male passengers with a knife while they fled without paying the fare, the report added.

"The attacks were not racially motivated, but opportunistic," Detective Senior Constable Jeff Highthorn was quoted as saying.

This attack comes just a day after a man was jailed for abusing and assaulting another Indian cabbie in Ballarat.

OneIndia News