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Thug Behram Chor | |
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| Born | c. 1765 |
| Died | 1840 (aged 74–75) |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Leader of the Thuggee cult inOudh |
| Years active | 1790–1840 |
| Conviction | Murder |
| Details | |
| Victims | 125 confirmed, suspect to be 931 |
Thug Behram (c. 1765 – 1840), also known asBuhram Jamedar and theKing of the Thugs, was a leader of theThuggee cult active inAwadh in centralIndia during the late 18th and early 19th century, and is often cited as one of the world's most prolificserial killers. He may have been involved in up to 931 murders by strangulation between 1790 and 1840 performed with a ceremonialrumāl, a handkerchief-like cloth used by his cult as agarrote. Only 125 were confirmed.[1][2][3]
While Behram is sometimes suspected of having committed 931 murders, James Paton, anEast India Company officer working for the Thuggee and Dacoity Office in the 1830s who wrote a manuscript onThuggee, quotes Behram as saying he had "been present" at 931 cases of murder, and "I may have strangled with my own hands about 125 men, and I may have seen strangled 150 more."[4]
The English word 'thug' is, in fact, borrowed from theHindi word 'thag' (ठग). The thugs were covert members of a group, and the term 'Thugee' typically referred to an act of deceitful and organised robbery and murder.[5]
Buhram used hiscummerbund orrumāl, with a large medallion sewn into it, as agarrote to execute his killing. Through sheer skill, he could cast therumal to cause the medallion to land at theadam's apple of his victims, adding pressure to the throat when he strangled them.[citation needed]
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