Indian taxi driver attacked in Australia

An Indian taxi driver was assaulted Friday in the Australian city of Ballarat by a passenger, police said.

The 24-year-old taxi driver, who was verbally abused by the passenger, sought refuge at a Ballarat service station at about 2.15 a.m.

The passenger followed the driver into the service station and allegedly assaulted him, AAP quoted a police spokeswoman as saying.

The taxi was damaged in the incident, she said.

A 48-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is in police custody.

The taxi driver was not seriously injured in the attack.

There have been a string of attacks on Indians in Australia, causing an outcry in India. Two of the vicious attacks proved fatal. While Ranjodh Singh's body was found Dec 29, another Indian, Nitin Garg, was fatally stabbed in Melbourne Jan 2. An Indian was set on fire in Melbourne Jan 9 while another Indian was assaulted at Coogee beach in Sydney Jan 11.

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