Indian City Gripped by 'Monkey' Business

May 18, 2001 -- Indian authorities believe that reports of an ape-like creature that residents of New Delhi may be in fact the creation of a gang of troublemakers.

Regardless of suspicions that the gang had created the idea of a "monkey man," police say they plan to prosecute rumor-peddlers in these incidents harshly.

On Thursday night, the police received 80 calls from peoplesaying they had seen the "monkey man," but most were fake.Only three people had injuries to show for alleged attacks.

"It's definitely not one person," said Joint Commissioner ofPolice Suresh Roy to Reuters today. "Events seem to behappening at different places at the same time so it could be anumber of mischief-makers who have formed a small gang."

Media reports said dozens were injured in the mysterious attacks and three people jumped to their deaths in a panic.

A Man, a Monkey, or a Cat?

Descriptions by witnesses reported in local dailies often portrayed the mysterious creature as a hairy simian. But other descriptions included an agile, feline-like creature, an individual covered from head-to-toe in bandages and in one case, a mysterious being wearing a helmet.

Multiple sightings of the "creature" over short time frames has led to speculation more than one creature involved in the attacks.

The rich variety of descriptions has predictably not gone down well with rank-and-file police officers, who blamed the panic on the superstitious beliefs of poor, largely uneducated people.

"There is no identification or description to depend on," a police officer told the Hindustan Times. "Not content with the fact that we had to keep running after false calls all through the night, we are now being asked to continue the hunt for the next couple of days."

A Serious Matter

But as the number of injuries increase, senior city police officers have started taking the matter seriously.

"Many people laugh and say how can such incidents occur, but injuries have to be taken seriously," Roy said to ABCNEWS.com. "We're trying to help by posting police on rooftops and keeping areas well lit at night. We have also posted border checks at entry points to the city and have been holding meetings with the public to keep the panic under control."

Man or superman, ape or super-ape, the Delhi police are taking no chances. Police officers have "shoot at sight" orders, said Roy.

Two "identikit" portraits based on victims' description have also been released. One showed a swarthy, hirsute "man" with a flat nose, thick lips and a piercing stare. The other, depicted a "man" with a moustache and dark glasses.

The police are also working with authorities at the Delhi Zoo, but those investigations have not shed much light on the mysterious monkey man. "Reports say the creature is around four feet tall and that does not correspond with any known creature," said Roy. "Secondly, monkeys do not normally indulge in such extraordinary acts. This is highly unusual."

Monkeys have been known to run wild in New Delhi and on the outskirts of the city. Residents often complain of the creatures pouncing on unsuspecting pedestrians and entering houses and government offices as overpopulation has forced many monkeys into urban areas.

Police offered a reward of 50,000 rupees ($1,063) onThursday for information leading to the capture of the "monkeyman," which they now believe is not an animal, and set up aspecial team to solve the puzzle.