Indian Taxi driver thrashed and racially abused by youths in Australia

Hobart: In what is suspected to be a racially motivated attack, a group of teenagers in Hobart, Australia thrashed and hurled abuses at an Indian Taxi driver from Kerala early on Sunday.

The driver, Li Max, hailing from Kottayam was admitted to the hospital with severe wounds on his face and chest.

According to Li, 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,” Li told a Malayalam news channel.

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 was quoted as saying.

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.