London, Feb 9: Even as the attacks on Indians in Australia is yet to die down, a taxi driver of Indian-orign was attacked as well as robbed in east Midland"s town of Leicester on Saturday, Feb 6.

The incident took place when 48-year-old Bharat Upadhay was dropping off two passengers, a man and woman in Braunstone Frith, Leicester.

Upadhay sustained injuries to his face and neck after he was attacked by the duo with a knife and rope.

“The man asked me to stop and I had just told him how much the fare was when suddenly I felt a rope around my neck. He held the rope so tight I thought I was suffocating. Then the woman pulled out a knife and tried to stab me," said the terrified Upadhyay.

He said that though the attack had scared for life, he had to continue with the job as it is his only means of livelihood.

“I thought I was going to die. It was really scary but I need this job as it is my bread and butter. I am worried about going out at night again after what happened," he said.

While Upadhay had managed to set himself free from the rope, he was held back by the man, who held his head against the head rest as the woman continued to punch his head and face, reports from Leicester said.

Finally managing to set himself free, Upadhay ran out of the car. However, the man caught up with him and forced him to hand over his purse.

He said that when he returned to the place of the incident, his car was missing.

Talking about the upsurge in attacks on taxi drivers, Upadhay said that he was lucky to escape.

"Taxi drivers were attacked too often and something needs to be done. I was lucky this time," he said.

OneIndia News