August 23, 2002	Friday	Jamadi-us-Saani 13,1423

NEW DELHI, Aug 22: Sunset sends people scurrying into their homes in many parts of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, as a rumours of a prowler who assaults and scratches people’s faces has triggered widespread panic.

As women hustle children indoors, the strong and the brave keep a vigil often with firearms for “Muhnochwa” (face scratcher), as the intruder has been named by the locals in the rural areas of Kanpur, Barabanki and Sultanpur districts of the state.

Muhnochwa is believed to be gifted with supernatural powers including an ability to fly. Descriptions of the creature say it is about half a metre tall, with the face of a dog or cat, and with red and green lights.

The red light reportedly flashes when the creature attacks and the green one when it leaves.

The rumours have triggered widespread panic. A youth was lynched last month in Sultanpur district under the mistaken notion that he was the attacker.

A man accidentally shot dead his mother when shooting at a light that he believed emanated from Muhnochwa.

Police fired on an angry mob which attacked a police station demanding protection against the attacker. One person was killed in the firing.

The matter figured even in debates of the state legislative assembly where opposition blamed the government of failing to tackle the scare.—dpa