Adelaide Indian cabbies rally after bashing, taxi theft

Dozens of taxi drivers today took out a rally outside the Adelaide Airport in a show of support for a Indian driver who was bashed and robbed on 17th May night. The noisy protest brought Adelaide to a standstill as the cabbies shouted, “We want justice”. Reports indicate that the Taxi authorities have asked for two weeks to decide on the demands of the cabbies which include protection screens etc.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, cabbie Balraj Singh was punched in the face and had his cab stolen by two passengers in Adelaide’s southern suburbs. The violent robbery has angered drivers who are calling for better protection, including security screens. Meanwhile, two persons have been arrested for the bashing and produced before a Magistrate.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Singh told ABC that he managed to break free from his attackers.

“One guy came out and opened my door and punched on my eye very badly, very hard,” he said.

“And then suddenly I pushed one guy from there and I managed to run away from there, and they took my taxi from there.”

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Mr Singh said the attack is indicative of the dangerous working conditions faced by Adelaide taxi drivers.

“Now I’m feeling alright, but at that time I was very scared because it’s not happening with me only,” he said.

“It happens with other guys also on Friday, Saturday nights, every Friday, Saturday nights it happens. And we can’t do anything.”

The protest comes just two weeks after similar scenes in Melbourne, where a 23-year-old driver was stabbed and left for dead in the early hours of the morning.

May 20, 2008 (story filed from Melbourne)

2 Responses

  1. I was in Adelaide recently on my first visit. I was absolutrely horrified to see that every visible tacx was being driven by an Indian, or possibly a Pakistani. Cry the Beloved Australia is all I can say when these immigrants/students/refugees – whatever they are can dominate an Australian industry. Pity the poor Australians who want to become a taxi driver.
    I will try and avoid Adelaide in future.

    1. If they want to become taxi drivers then they should go and be one.
      The reason why there are only immigrant taxi drivers is because no one else wants to be one. this job was one of the few which was open to them.

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Neeraj Nanda

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