Australia regrets attack on Indian cabbie, says 'we place great importance on safety of everyone'

Melbourne: After Kerala cab driver Li Max Joy was assaulted by a group of teenage boy in Australia's Hobart in a suspected racially motivated attack, the city police department has launched a probe into the incident. 

A spokesperson from the Australian High Commission on Monday issued a statement with regards to the attack on the Indian taxi driver. 

"We regret the attack on taxi driver of Indian origin in Hobart which occurred over the weekend. We understand he suffered minor injuries and has been discharged from Royal Hobart Hospital. We place great importance on the safety and security of everyone who resides in Australia, including our Indian community," said the statement. 

"The matter is currently under investigation by the Tasmania police, it takes all assaults seriously. We understand that whether the assault was racially-based will be a component of the investigative facts," the statement read further. 

33-year-old Joy was yesterday admitted to the hospital with severe wounds on his face and chest. After he was discharged from hospital, he reported the incident to police.

According to the complainant, he had parked his car on the roadside and saw three youths arguing with a Mcdonalds employee when they turned their attention to him.

"Among the three a big boy in black t-shirt yelled racial abuses and attacked me without any provocation. I was literally shocked. Soon two others also joined, raining blows on me. Before leaving they poured water on my bleeding wounds," he said. 

This was the first time working in Hobart had Li undergone such a traumatic experience.

"While hitting me they were using choicest racial abuses. Nobody intervened when I was attacked and later they sped away in their vehicle," he said.

This was the second such incident in the week in Australia. Previously a priest from Kerala was stabbed inside a church in Melbourne. The attack was condemned by the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and directed the Indian consulate to render all help to the priest.