An Auckland bus driver, who requested to be identified only by his surname, Singh, has been left seriously injured after being assaulted with a skateboard by a group of fare evaders in a late-night attack on Mayoral Drive, The New Zealand Herald reported. The incident, which occurred on August 31, has left Singh, a father of two, unable to walk without support due to a fractured lumbar spine. His doctor estimates it could take up to three months for him to recover.
The attack has left Singh fearful of returning to work, especially following another racially charged assault on fellow bus driver Rajnish Trehan just days later. Singh, who had previously encountered the group on his New Lynn 24R route, described how the four young adults ignored his refusal for a free ride, seated themselves at the back of the bus, and became verbally abusive. The repeated harassment by the same group had become a regular occurrence on his route, Singh said, as they often dodged fares and taunted him.
On the night of the attack, Singh stopped to pick up passengers around 9.30 pm, only to be confronted by the same group. The situation escalated when one of them used a skateboard to beat him, leaving Singh with both physical and emotional pain. "I have to put up with the pain and everything – the mental pain, the physical pain – it's just not fair," he said.
"While I was on the phone with my control operator, the group jumped off the bus. I got back on to continue driving, but they re-entered, and one of them started swearing at me," Singh told Herald.
The situation escalated when one of the offenders spat on Singh, prompting him to try and reason with them. However, the group became aggressive, with one individual pushing Singh and starting a fight.
"They hit me with a skateboard, and I fell to the ground. Then they all started kicking me and attacking with the skateboard," Singh said.
The group fled after the assault.
Singh’s wife expressed her frustration, saying, “People don’t have any respect for those working hard for their families. They get away with it, and that’s why they do it again and again. What options are we left with?” the Herald quoted her.
Police have confirmed they are investigating the assault and have asked the public for any information. Auckland Transport has acknowledged the incident but did not provide specific details, emphasizing the ongoing rollout of safety screens in buses to protect drivers. Kinetic, the bus operator, has launched an internal investigation.
This attack follows the racially motivated assault on driver Rajnish Trehan last Saturday, who was punched by a passenger after asking him to respect other passengers. The passenger hurled racial slurs, stating, "This is my country, you are my servant," before attacking Trehan, leaving him in need of urgent dental care.
Both incidents highlight the increasing risks faced by Auckland's bus drivers, as calls grow for stronger safety measures and public support.
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