Close on the heels of stabbing to death of Nitin Garg in Melbourne last week another man of Indian origin is in a serious condition in hospital after he was allegedly attacked by four men and set on fire in city’s north-west overnight.

The 29-year-old Jaspreet Singh was taken to hospital with burns to 15 per cent of his body after the attack shortly before 2 am in Essendon. He is reported to be in a stable condition.

According to the AAP, the man had dropped his wife at home at Grice Crescent after returning from a party and had gone to park his car nearby when he was allegedly attacked by four men pushing him back against the vehicle and pouring an unknown fluid on him. One of the men then ignited the fluid with a lighter before all four men fled, police said.

The victim allegedly ran from the car while peeling off his clothes. He suffered burns to his arms, chest and face. Police has appealed for public assistance to locate the victim’s clothes, which he shed as he fled the scene.

Meanwhile, Crime squad investigators say the circumstances leading up to the man being set on fire are “unusual” – but not racially motivated.

“I believe there’s no reason at this stage to consider this in any way racially motivated,” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Neil Smyth told reporters on Saturday.

“The circumstances of parking a car randomly on a side street and just some people approaching him are a bit strange and it’s highly unlikely, therefore, to be a targeted attack on any individual.”

The attackers have been described in only a “generalised description which is really just unspecific, just four males,” Det Act Snr Sgt Smyth said. “It is an unusual event,” he said.

Police say their investigation into the incident is a priority and are appealing for any witnesses to contact them.

Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the federal government condemned all violence – regardless of motivation.

“The government condemns all acts of violence in the strongest possible way,” she said in a statement on Saturday.

“This matter remains under investigation by the Victorian police,” adding that the government would not comment further until police could provide more information.

Neighbours across the street said they heard the car explode into flames but didn’t notice any kind of fight or disturbance

Raymond Yacoub, who has lived in the area for 30 years, said he woke up to see the car ablaze and firefighters spraying it down.

“Actually, to be honest, I thought maybe it was an insurance job,” he said.

“Somebody tried to get rid of it. That’s what I thought.”

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