ROME, Feb 1: An Indian immigrant was beaten up and set on fire on Sunday near Rome, Italian police said.

Hospitalised in a serious condition, the 35-year-old homeless man was sleeping at Nettuno train station south of Rome when several people beat him up brutally before setting him on fire with a container of petrol, police told ANSA news agency.

He was able to talk to the police – alerted by an anonymous tip-off – when they arrived at the scene.

Police are investigating whether the incident was an anti-immigrant attack, but had not ruled out a robbery motive.

Rome’s Mayor Gianni Alemanno also raised the possibility that it might have been carried out in revenge for the recent rape of a young Italian girl. However, he said: “Nobody has the right to seek justice all alone.”—AFP