India: Thug Behram and the Thuggee Stranglers

Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast

Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins

History, Society & Culture, True Crime

4.5 • 992 Ratings

🗓️ 30 October 2025

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In colonial India, travelers often befriended strangers on the road, never suspecting these companions were Thuggee Stranglers. Thug Behram's reign of terror makes a chilling subject for analysis of Foul Play's Season 36. Behram, one of the most feared Thug leaders, appeared to be a benign pilgrim. Before his lethal fame, he was a man living in India's vast heartlands, aligned with the traditions of his community, yet destined for infamy. This story is vital for understanding colonial misunderstandings and how cultural demonizations can warp historical truths. An account of Thug Behram reveals the complex beliefs and social dynamics that gave rise to one of history's deadliest cults. Behram allegedly led upwards of 900 killings, an unparalleled criminal spree fueled by ritualistic practices. His operations, often conducted under cover of darkness, mimicked shadowy rituals, leading to myths blending with historical facts. India during British rule was a patchwork of cultures, beset by friction between native traditions and foreign interests. The Thuggee cult, set against this backdrop, exemplified fears of the unknown, fueled by both genuine danger and colonial hyperbole. This episode of Foul Play provides an evocative portrait of Thuggee exploits and their subsequent crackdowns. Listeners will hear dramatic investigations, narratives of escape, and cultural tensions revealed through the life of Behram. --- Support Foul Play: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foulplaypodcast Website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/foul-play/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foul-play-crime-series/id1525832703 Follow us: Instagram: @foulplaycrimeseries Twitter: @foulplaypod

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Transcript

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0:00.0	The sun sinks over the Indian plains.
0:07.0	A group of travelers makes camp, sharing food and laughter with new companions they've met on the road.
0:15.0	But as night falls, those friendly smiles will become the last faces they ever see.
0:22.2	Because seated among them is Thug Baram, a man who has been waiting on this moment all along.
0:35.3	Hello, friend. Welcome to episode five of our series, Serial Killers in History.
0:42.4	I'm Shane Waters.
0:44.3	In episode four, we were in Portugal in 1772.
0:49.2	Tonight we moved to India in the 1790s, where a secret brotherhood known as the Thudgy stalked the roads,
0:57.5	and at the center of their terror stood their most infamous leader, Thug Baram.
1:06.0	In the shadowy corners of early 19th century India, a terrifying cult flourished, striking fear
1:13.4	into the hearts of travellers who dared to journey across the subcontinent.
1:18.0	Known as the Thudgy, these organised bands of killers claimed countless lives in the name
1:23.1	of the goddess Kali. While the British Raj struggled to maintain control over their colonial territory,
1:29.7	these silent assassins moved freely through the countryside, affecting their deadly craft over
1:34.7	centuries. Among these ruthless killers, one name stands above all others. Thug Berum.
1:43.3	His story is not for the faint of heart, for he holds a chilling distinction in
1:47.8	the annals of criminal history. With 125 confirmed victims over a 40-year career, Berram is considered
1:56.9	the most prolific serial killer of the world has ever known. His reign of terror through
2:01.5	British-controlled India would ultimately lead to one of the largest criminal investigations
2:06.4	of the colonial era. For centuries, the thudgy blended in with the very people they intended to
2:13.4	kill. They shared meals, sing songs, and walked side by side with their targets, waiting
2:20.7	for the moment trust was deepest. Then, with ritual precision, they struck. And at the heart
	...

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