NEW DELHI - Three taxi drivers were arrested for chasing and beating five members of a family in the capital, the police said Friday.

Stephen Able, 47, a resident of Chatarpur village, was returning home with his wife Asha and their three children - two daughters and a son - after a party in Patparganj area in a taxi when they were chased and attacked by three taxi drivers near Nizammudin flyover late Thursday.

The three taxi drivers have been identified as Kishan Singh Ravat, Vikas Singh and Sanjay Kumar.

The police said that the dispute started when Able allegedly in an inebriated state went to a taxi stand to hire a car. But cab driver Kumar at the stand turned away the customer and a heated argument broke out between them.

Able allegedly also slapped Kumar, and then hired another cab and he and his family left from the spot.

However, Kumar and his friends gave Able and his family a chase and intercepted their taxi near the Nizammudin flyover.

‘We could see a car chasing us throughout. I was keeping my fingers crossed and praying that they don’t harm my family and me,’ Able told reporters.

The taxi drivers broke the glasses of the hired car and thrashed Able and his family, the police said.

The driver of Able’s car managed to escape and informed the police.

The arrested driver, Kumar said: ‘It was late in the night and I was tired after a day’s work. The family wanted to hire a taxi for a long distance and the man (Able) was badly drunk. So I refused them.’

‘But he got physical and started abusing me,’ Kumar added.

Able, however, denied slapping Kumar.

‘We have recorded the statement of both the parties and are investigating the matter,’ a police officer said.