A TAXI driver has been punched and throttled in an attack that will send shockwaves through the community following the murder of Gian Chand Bajar two years ago.

The 46-year-old, who works for Phoenix Taxis in Perry Street, Northfleet, was attacked opposite The Crown Pub on Friday, April 24 between 10.30pm and 10.50pm.

Two men jumped into the front passenger seat of his taxi and while one head-butted him and tried to throttle him, the other punched him.

The driver suffered a fractured nose, bruising to his neck and two black eyes.

The attack came as a blow to the taxi driving community which has campaigned successfully to have CCTV installed in all Gravesham cabs following the murder of Mr Bajar in May 2007.

The father-of-five was mown down by his own taxi by 20-year-old Luke Aujila in a row over a fare that was less than £5.

Aujila was jailed for 20 years in June 2008 after a jury found him guilty of murder.

His mother Annette, 43, and brother Thomas, 26, also admitted perverting the course of justice.

Following the murder, United Taxi Group, representing Gravesham taxi drivers, campaigned to get CCTV cameras installed in all cabs to help prevent further assaults.

In January this year Gravesham Borough Council made it compulsory for all taxis to have the security equipment, providing some funding towards the cost.

A police spokeswoman said the victim of the latest attack did have in his taxi and they were currently reviewing it to see whether the incident had been caught on camera.

Rick Davis, 55, from the , said: "This could have happened to any one of the taxi drivers. We are hoping the cameras will come up trumps and God willing it will have been captured on the CCTV. Hopefully it will deter others from attacking taxi drivers as we will have your face on camera."

Police appeal

POLICE are appealing for information over the latest attack and want to speak to a couple who had been standing outside Phoenix Taxis who may have seen the assault and spoke to the driver afterwards.

They are also keen to speak with another man who also spoke to the driver after the assault, and a bus driver who may have been parked on the other side of the road to where the attack took place.

The offenders are described as white, in their early to mid-twenties. One was of medium build and had shaved brown hair and spoke with a London accent. He was wearing a light-coloured, short-sleeved T-shirt and had tattoos on his arms.