The devine stranglers
Rajesh Rampal

A story of thugs and thuggee sleeman.

Set in turbulent Central India in the early 19th century, the story revolves around an Englishman, in the employ of the East India company, his French wife from a noble emigre family, businessmen, policemen and a sect of divine stranglers who have escaped the clutches of the law for centuries. The Englishman sets out to exterminate the sect, using the first modern scientific methods of criminal investigation and detection. This results in the arrest of 3689 killers, 466 of whom are hanged and 2497 imprisoned for life. Based on historical facts, the story takes you through early 19th century customs and practises in England, France and India. Strangulations, famine, epidemics, myths, folklore, superstitions gel together in the story to unfold the mystique of India.