Are hair attacks just mass hysteria?

NEW DELHI - A scare has gripped women in north Indian states following mysterious incidents of women having their braids braid cut off while sleeping, police said on Saturday.

According to the grapevine among women a hair-cutting "ghost" is roaming Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and the national capital Delhi, laying its hands on braids of women. So far more than 50 women have reported that they woke up to find their braids chopped off.

With the number of reported incidents rising, the Indian police has been struggling hard to solve the mystery of who - or what - is responsible.