thuggee

noun2

1. •
   (historical) The murder and robbery of groups of travellers in India.

   • ‘In India, where everything began, this kind of human activity, obscene in itself, was undertaken on behalf of a goddess, called, I think, Kali; the murder was an act of so-called thugee, I was told.’ — 1983
2. •
   (historical) A thug (a member of band of assassins in India).