Taxi drivers fear for safety after violent armed holdups

Taxi drivers in Calgary say they fear for their safety following several violent robberies this month.

At least five cabbies from different companies say they were assaulted and held up by armed attackers in northeast Calgary, said Tony Singh, the president of the Taxi Driver Association of Alberta.

Calgary police are investigating.

Manmohan Grewal, whohas been driving a cab in Calgary for 11 years, saidhenever imagined he would be attacked the way he was on March 9.

Grewal was dispatched to pick up a customer in the northeast community of Falconridge whenhis driver side window was smashed by several attackers.

"Suddenly, I was smashed on my head, so I had big cuts on my head. Then I realized I was going to die because they're going to kill me," he said.

Grewal was barely able to escape and survived hits to his head and hands.

Violent attacks

Shawinder Brar, another veteran Calgary taxi driver, was also severely injured on March 9 when he was attacked by three people and beaten with a metal bar.

"I just run from the door but they catch me later and they hit me over my head and my eye about fourorfive times. I give them whatever money I had. They asked me for the money," he said.

The attackers then stole Brar's vehicle but later ran from it after they heard police sirens. Brar sustained severe injuries to his eyes and head and is still black and blue from the beating.

Both drivers say they were held at gunpoint and theirattacks happened in the northeast.

Lakvinder Singh Minhas said he was held at gunpoint one night last week after he was called to pick up a fare.

"He just held it over my head and just keep beating me until one guy just hit my stomach and I just went down," he said. "They ask me, 'Give me whatever you have,' they ask. My keys, my jacket, my money. I give them whatever they ask," he said.

Minhas said he has several stitches in his head as a reminder of the ordeal.

Singhofthetaxi driver associationis urging cabbies to be vigilant and take every necessary precaution to avoid being attacked.