Melbourne, Feb 4 (IANS) An Indian taxi driver was arrested in this Australian city after he bashed up a passenger following a heated argument Wednesday night, media reports said.

The 25-year-old passenger had an argument with the driver at about 10 p.m. when they pulled over in Acland Street in St Kilda, Australian news agency AAP reported.

A witness said the passenger tried to walk away but the driver chased him down and had to be restrained by security staff working at a nearby business.

The driver then grabbed a baton from the boot of his cab, drove up next to the passenger and allegedly started striking the man repeatedly with the weapon, according to the witness.

"Within a few minutes, many other cab drivers, all of them Indian, all turned up," witness Karen told Fairfax Radio Thursday. "And I could just see how out of hand this is all getting."

The 32-year-old Indian driver was arrested and charged with intentionally causing injury and two counts of unlawful assault.