IIRC the item used by the Thuggs for strangulation was a white silk hankerchief in one corner of which a small coin had been tied to give it weight. By holding the kerchief by the opposite corner to the weight and whipping it round the throat of the victim, the victim would, if the Thugg were skilled, be throttled before s/he could utter a sound. The weight gave impetus to the swing of the kerchief. It was the Thugg's pride to effect the killing so silently that other people in the party would not be aware that anything untoward had happened until it was too late.
Also, I believe a feature film about Captain Sleeman and the overthrow of the Thuggs was shown on (British) TV a few years back - I may have a video of it somewhere.
I have also heard it said that the introduction of the telegraph played its part in the elimination of Thuggee. Travellers were now able to let their friends and colleagues know exactly where they were and this cut down the time during which they might disappear. It meant that search parties could be sent out promptly and the Thuggs had far less chance of getting away undetected.
Sorry I cannot give chapter-and-verse citations for the above - I am relying on memory.
Mary Seymour.
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