MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: In India, stories of a mysterious creature on the loose. People say a violent monkey-like man is roaming the streets of New Delhi. The bizarre rumor is already linked to several deaths and injuries. CNN's Suhasini Haidar has more.</s>SUHASINI HAIDAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hindu prayer fires burn as some residents of India's capital try something new to get rid of a menace that plagued them for a week. Thousands of people in Delhi believe a monkey-man is on the lose after reports emerged of a strange creature that climbs up on rooftops and attacks men, women and children in their homes. No laughing matter. Three people have been killed and more than 60 have been injured after falling in the panic spawned by fear of the monkey-man. It is the burning issue in Delhi, and police have few clues.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The authorities have failed nab this mysterious monkey-man. We are left with no other option but to seek help from god.</s>HAIDAR: Each night, police say, they receive between 50 and 100 calls from people who think they have seen the mysterious creature. Most of them are hoaxes. But thousands of Delhi residents stay up each night to protect their neighborhoods. Tired and scared, these people's patrols often turn violent. This man was smashed by an angry crowd when they suspected it was monkey-man's getaway car. Police say they now think initial rumors may have spurred a gang of pranksters into dressing up and scaring people.</s>DINESH GUPTA, POLICE OFFICIAL (through translator): Somebody is doing all of this in a planned way to create panic among the people. People are now panicked. There seems to be some conspiracy.</s>HAIDAR: And these people here have run out of patience. Pressure increases on the police. They have offered award of $1,000 to anyone who has captured the mysterious monkey-man. Suhasini Haidar, CNN, New Delhi.
Mysterious Monkey-Man Blamed for Attacks on Residents of New Delhi