Mysterious bearman in India's Assam state

The authorities in the northeastern Indian state of Assam say they are investigating reports of attacks on people by a bear-like creature over the past few days.

Police in the Nalbari district, about 70 kilometres from the state capital, Gauhati say more than 10 people have reported attacks at night.

The district commissioner said although it might be some kind of psychosis, the administration was not taking any chances and police patrols had been set up to instil confidence among the villagers.

The incident comes only a week after reports of similar attacks at night in the Indian capital, Delhi, by a mysterious creature, described as part-man and part-monkey, which caused panic in some suburbs.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service