Indian man attacked and set alight in Melbourne
January 2, 2010
An Indian man is in a serious condition in a Melbourne hospital after being attacked and set alight by a gang.
It comes a week after an Indian graduate student was stabbed to death in the city, prompting a travel advisory from the Indian government.
Melbourne police said the latest attack appeared to be random and there was no evidence it was racially motivated.
But the attacks have prompted an angry reaction in India, where Australia has been accused of ignoring racism.
The 29-year-old man attacked on Saturday was returning home from a dinner party with his wife when he was set upon.
The gang - said by police to comprise four men - poured fluid over him and then set him alight.
The victim is now in a Melbourne hospital, where his condition has been described as serious, with burns to 15% of his body.
Police are trying to trace his burnt clothes, which he shed as he fled the scene.
Melbourne police said the latest attack appeared to be random and there was no evidence it was racially motivated.
But the attacks have prompted an angry reaction in India, where Australia has been accused of ignoring racism.
The 29-year-old man attacked on Saturday was returning home from a dinner party with his wife when he was set upon.
The gang - said by police to comprise four men - poured fluid over him and then set him alight.
The victim is now in a Melbourne hospital, where his condition has been described as serious, with burns to 15% of his body.
Police are trying to trace his burnt clothes, which he shed as he fled the scene.
