The Thuggee were a secretive and organized group of criminals who operated in India from at least the 13th to the 19th century, notorious for their ritualistic killings and robberies. Often posing as innocent travelers, they would befriend fellow journeyers on roads and, once trust was established, strangle them with a handkerchief or noose—often in honor of the Hindu goddess Kali, whom they believed demanded human sacrifices. The British colonial authorities viewed the Thuggee as a significant threat to law and order, and during the 1830s and 1840s, they launched a major campaign to suppress the group, led by figures like William Sleeman. This crackdown led to thousands of arrests and executions, ultimately dismantling the Thuggee networks. Though their true scale and religious motivations remain debated among historians, the Thuggee have become emblematic of a dark and mysterious chapter in India’s colonial past.

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