India: Thug Behram and the Thuggee Stranglers

India: Thug Behram and the Thuggee Stranglers

Author: Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins October 30, 2025 Duration: 13:56
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 in this episode 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 sheds light on the intricate 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

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Step back into an era of flickering gaslight and whispered secrets, where justice was often as murky as the London fog or as stark as a frontier town’s saloon. Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast exhumes long-forgotten criminal cases from the 1800s and early 1900s, meticulously piecing together stories that newspapers sensationalized and time nearly erased. Hosts Shane Waters, a veteran whose work helped shape the genre, and Wendy Cee, alongside researcher Gemma Hoskins, guide you through each meticulously researched season. They focus on a single, complete narrative, building the tension from the crime itself through the investigation and into the courtroom’s hushed drama. You’ll hear more than just the facts; you’ll get a sense of the societal pressures, the legal limitations, and the human lives entangled in each historical moment. This isn't about quick summaries-it's a deep, immersive audio experience that treats the past with the gravity it deserves. The podcast connects the dots using original documents, period accounts, and a clear-eyed analysis that separates legend from truth. It’s for anyone who wonders about the real stories lurking in the shadows of history, told with a journalist’s precision and a storyteller’s care for the victims and the complexities of their times. Listen to Foul Play for a compelling journey where every clue matters and history itself is the most important character.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Orlando: Casey Anthony's Crocodile Tears [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:05
As Casey Anthony's case develops, her tears invite scrutiny and suspicion... Foul Play continues in Season 34 with the escalating investigation post-arrest of Casey Anthony. Although Caylee remained missing, detectives a…
Orlando: Casey Anthony's 911 Call [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:08
Frantic cries for help echo in the case of Casey Anthony's 911 call... In this third installment of Season 34, Foul Play charts the chilling events leading up to one of America’s most memorable emergency calls. When Cind…
Orlando: Casey Anthony Playing Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:32
Games of deception unfold as the Casey Anthony case delves deeper into intrigue. Continuing Season 34 of Foul Play, we scrutinize the troubling timeline in the aftermath of Caylee Anthony’s disappearance. Episode two, ti…
Orlando: Where is Caylee Anthony? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:54
In Orlando, the search for Caylee Anthony stirs endless questions and emotions... In Season 34 of Foul Play, we open an extensive examination of one of the most gripping cases of the 21st century—the disappearance of Cay…
San Francisco: Zodiac Hoax Theory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:57
San Francisco: Challenge all that's known about the Zodiac Killer as we explore a radical theory suggesting the infamous killer...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdve…
San Francisco: Zodiac Cracking the Code [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:24
San Francisco: In the decades-long hunt for the elusive Zodiac Killer, one puzzle remains unsolved—the notorious Z340 cipher...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdverti…
San Francisco: The Zodiac Movie Overview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:14
The cinematic portrayal of the Zodiac Killer unravels a haunting layer of...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy…
Riverside: Ross Sullivan & Cheri Jo Bates Case [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:45
Ross Sullivan's proximity to Cheri Jo Bates' murder deepens the Zodiac mystery...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPr…
California: Cases Against Kane & Poste — Zodiac Links [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:38
The intricate links to Kane and Poste paint a shadowy picture in the Zodiac...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPriva…
Brooklyn: Night of Terror — Zodiac's Reach, Pt 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:42
Brooklyn's chilling saga finds its culmination, revealing the Zodiac Copycat...Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPriv…