Two Australian men from Victoria, arrested for assaulting an Indian taxi driver, will be produced in court on Monday, in an incident that takes to four the number of attacks on Indian cabbies in three days.
The incident happened on Friday night when the two men were picked up by a 23-year old Indian taxi driver in Geelong city. Robert Harvey, 25, and Andrew Madden, 24, allegedly attacked the driver, who suffered bruising and swelling to the face and head. Paramedics treated him at the scene but he was not hospitalised, according to police official Ben Melis.
The two men, who were arrested after the incident, were remanded in custody on Sunday and charged with robbery and assault-related crimes. Police allege it was a premeditated attack, according to a 'Herald Sun' report.
However, there was no confirmation by the police on whether the attack was racially motivated. The incident was the fourth such attack on Indian taxi drivers in the last three days.
An undisclosed amount of cash was also allegedly taken away from the driver, Melis said.
"The evidence tends to point towards a premeditated attack. A number of passers-by came to the aid of the taxi driver after he pleaded for assistance from passing cars. One of the accused was held until the police arrived. The other was later arrested by police," Melis said.
Both men will be presented at the Geelong Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner Sujatha Singh visited the recently attacked Gurdawara in Cranbourne and also visited Blackburn Gurdawara. She met Gurdawara members and community members during her visit.
