THREE PEOPLE HAVE died after a ‘grease devil’ panic struck rural Sri Lanka.

Reuters reports that a number of assaults that happened during the night were blamed on so-called “grease devils”, thieves who historically covered their bodies in grease to evade capture.

However these latest grease devils have been targeting females, causing women to stay indoors.

The appearances have also led to suspected grease devils being attacked themselves – two were hacked to death on Wednesday by a mob.

A third man died while hunting for a grease devil when he accidentally stood on an electric wild boar trap in the jungle.

Police have arrested 47 people following 30 reported incidents involving grease devils.

Police spokesman Prashantha Jayakody said:

There is no grease devil as such. It is a human among us with an ulterior motive of stealing or to engage in some illegal activities.

Some men have been arming themselves with clubs and sticks and standing guard at night time.