A Brief Overview of the Thuggee and Dacoity Suppression Acts

In a span of twelve years, numerous acts aimed at suppressing the practice of thuggee and dacoity were enacted. These acts underwent several amendments over the years. Here's a brief overview of these acts.

Thuggee and Dacoity Suppression Acts, 1836 – 1848

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The Aftermath of the Thuggee and Dacoity Suppression Acts

The enactment of these laws led to a systematic crackdown on thuggee and dacoity cults by the British authorities. Captured members often became informants in exchange for lighter sentences. These informants played a key role in locating and eliminating Thuggee hideouts and bringing the survivors to justice. Punishments varied from life imprisonment to death by hanging, depending on the severity of the crimes committed.

By the 1870s, the Thug cult was virtually extinct. However, the legacy of Thuggee contributed to the introduction of the Criminal Tribes Act (CTA) of 1871. Even though the CTA was repealed after India gained independence, tribes deemed criminal still exist in India. The Thuggee and Dacoity Department continued to exist until 1904 when it was replaced by the Central Criminal Intelligence Department (CID).

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