Authorities in India's north-eastern state of Assam say more than a dozen people have reported being attacked by a bear-like creature over the past few days.

People have performed rituals and have formed groups to keep vigil during hours of darkness in order to protect themselves.

The incident follows something close to panic in the Indian capital, Delhi and in the neighbouring state of Rajasthan, caused by a mysterious creature described as part man and part monkey.

Police in Assam's Nalbari district, about 70km from the state capital Guwahati, say they are investigating reports about the bear-like creature.

Police patrols

It is said to attack people at night, but to vanish when lights are switched on or when people shout.

The district commissioner - B Kalyan Chakraborty - told the BBC that police patrols have been sent to instil confidence among the villagers.

Mr Chakraborty said the scare might be attributable to some kind of psychosis but that the administration was not taking any chances.

He said there are reports of people being scratched by the creature, but that no-one so far has seen it.

Alert

The Minister of State for Home Affairs in Assam - Pradip Bordoloi - said instructions have been issued to the police to remain on alert, and to try to control any panic among the villagers.

The scare comes after a so-called monkey-man recently created terror in some suburbs of Delhi.

People claimed they had seen the creature attempting to attack people who were sleeping on roof-tops to escape the heat.

Many had described a creature about four-and-a-half feet (1.5m) tall, dark and hairy and either with a monkey face or possibly wearing a monkey mask.