A 45-year-old Indian-origin taxi driver in New Zealand was viciously attacked and knocked his teeth out by an unidentified man in an alleged case of robbery, a media report said today.
The incident took place in the North Island city of Hamilton. The victim was punched repeatedly by the passenger who was sitting in his cab and knocked his teeth out, Stuff.Co.Nz reported.
The man, who is recuperating to the injuries, said that the attack was shocking and he had no idea why he was targeted.
"The attack on me was shocking. I needed medical and dental treatment and it's shaken not just me, but my wife and three children as well," the victim was quoted as saying in the report.
Though the attacker demanded cash while beating the victim on Tuesday, he fled empty handed when the latter resisted and did not hand over him cash.
Prima facie, police have ruled out a racist attack and said the victim was sitting in the taxi when the accused struck.
The victim was a New Zealander of Indian descent and had been with the company more than nine years.
He said the attacker, in his mid 20s, was said to be a male Maori wearing dark clothes.
