NEW DELHI A "monkeyman" who terrified residents of the Indian capital last month was a product of mass hysteria, press reports said Monday, citing a study by forensic experts and psychiatrists.

The experts had concluded that the monkeyman was a "mere figment of the imagination of emotionally-weak people", AFP quoted the *** Times of India *** as saying.

The forensic experts had examined the spots of alleged sightings of the monkeyman and carried out tests to check for any physical evidence, the newspaper said, adding that "none was found".

Two people died and 60 were injured as a result of the panic following sightings of the creature, mostly in New Delhi's crowded eastern and northern areas.

Delhi police were kept on their toes for about two weeks as terrified residents claimed they had been attacked.

Night patrols were intensified in the areas where the bizarre figure, vividly described as anything from a tiny man dressed as a monkey to a seven foot (2.1 meter) beast with illuminated green eyes, was reportedly spotted.

Most of the attacks took place at night between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and a majority of the victims were those sleeping on rooftops in lower-middle class suburbs on the outskirts of the capital.

The police set up a special team to hunt down the creature and announced a reward of 50,000 rupees ($1,063) for information leading to its capture.

According to the *** Times of India *** report, forensic doctors had examined supposed victims of the monkeyman.

"The nature of the injuries were scrutinized to see whether any animal could have caused them. In most cases the injuries were found to be too superficial to arrive at any conclusion."

The forensic report had therefore concluded that most of the injuries could have been self inflicted, the newspaper said.

The forensic report also said there was little evidence to suggest an organized gang was behind the series of attacks.