india

Updated: Aug 28, 2015 20:14 IST

An unidentified bike rider has terrorised Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district, pricking at least nine women travelling alone with a syringe needle in the past week but police say the victims haven't been injected with harmful substances.

Police have launched a massive hunt for the “syringe psycho”, who roams on a black Pulsar bike, covers his face with a handkerchief, and is said to be around 30 years old. Most of the women were pricked on their buttocks during morning hours.

District police say the first case was reported on August 22. “And on Tuesday and Wednesday, a few more incidents took place. We have intensified our hunt to nab the offender who seems to be a pervert enjoying his prank,” said Bhaskar Bhushan, superintendent of police, West Godavari.

Authorities have released a portrait based on a few sightings and have barricaded roads at several places to check every biker in the district.

Special teams have also been formed to find the culprit, with the help of local residents, and the police have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh to anyone helping in the identification of the suspect.

Most of the incidents were reported from Bhimavaram-Palacole-Penugonda areas though local TV channels reported more than 12 women had been attacked.

Preliminary tests found no hazardous substance in the needles or in the victims, though the women suffered shock. The attacked women were stable and their blood samples were sent to a Hyderabad lab.

The state government has asked the police to act swiftly to arrest the offender but with the biker still at large, women in the district are anxious and afraid to venture out on the roads.