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When we think of serial killers, names like Jack the Ripper, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Ted Bundy often come to mind, painting a picture of the West as the epicenter of such gruesome crimes. However, India has its own dark roster of serial killers, showcasing a chilling legacy that matches—if not surpasses—the notorious figures of the Western world.
Among India’s most unsettling figures is Amardeep Sada, who holds the grim distinction of being the world’s youngest serial killer. At just seven years old, Sada committed the unthinkable by taking the lives of three infants. His case has baffled experts, who attribute his lack of remorse to a possible “chemical imbalance” in his brain, making him one of the few Indian serial killers who may have been genuinely mentally disturbed.
Another dark figure in India’s serial killer history is Thug Behram, a notorious thuggee from the 1800s. Behram’s reign of terror, marked by a staggering number of victims—937—has made him a record holder in the annals of serial killing. His methods, which involved strangulation using a ceremonial cloth, are a stark reminder of the brutality that can emerge from organized criminal practices.
India’s list of serial killers also includes those who prey specifically on children. Darbara Singh, operating in Punjab, harbored a deep-seated hatred for immigrant children after a traumatic incident led to his imprisonment. Singh’s rage drove him to murder 17 children, whom he lured with sweets before subjecting them to horrific fates. In Maharashtra, Anjanabai Gavit, along with her daughters Seema Gavit and Renuka Shinde, exploited infants as decoys for their crimes. This mother-daughter trio’s monstrous activities included throwing kidnapped infants onto roads to deflect suspicion.
The case of the “Cyanide Killers” adds another layer of horror. Mohan Kumar, known as Cyanide Mohan, and his accomplices, Jolly and Mallika, used cyanide as their weapon of choice. Their crimes involved not just killing but using cyanide as their trademark method, which earned them a notorious reputation.
India has also had its share of elusive serial killers, such as the Stoneman and the Beerman. The latter earned his nickname because empty beer cans were found near his victims, though it later emerged that these cans were used by the homeless victims to store water, misleading the media about the killer’s habits.
The recent revelation of Kuldeep Kumar Gangwar, a resident of Bareilly, adds a new chapter to India’s dark history. Gangwar’s arrest followed an investigation triggered by the murder of nine women over 13 months. Like other serial killers, Gangwar collected trophies from his victims, including lipsticks, bindis, and ID cards. This practice of keeping mementos—whether to relive the crime or as a symbol of dominance—is common among serial killers, as seen with figures like Chandrakant Jha, who kept photographs of his victims.
The motivations behind serial killing are varied. Western theories often link such behaviors to mental illness, traumatic childhood experiences, or psychopathy. Ted Bundy, for instance, described the act of killing as feeling like a god, while in India, many serial killers seem driven by greed or personal vendettas. For instance, KD Kempamma, also known as Cyanide Mallika, turned to murder in her quest for financial stability, a reflection of the dire economic conditions faced by many in 2007 India.
In a similar vein, Anjanabai Gavit and her daughters used infants to disguise their crimes, driven by a combination of economic desperation and a perverse sense of survival. Darbara Singh’s crimes were fueled by personal vengeance, and Raman Raghav’s pathological hatred of women led him to murder 41 people.
The case of Kuldeep Kumar Gangwar bears eerie similarities to the early life of Jeffrey Dahmer. Gangwar’s difficult childhood, marked by domestic violence and familial strife, echoes the traumatic experiences that shaped many Western serial killers. His hatred towards women and subsequent violent actions reflect a disturbing pattern seen in other notorious killers.
India’s grim list of serial killers continues to intrigue and horrify. With 36 documented cases, these criminals represent not only the darkest aspects of human nature but also a morbid fascination that transcends cultural boundaries. As Bundy famously noted, serial killers can be found among anyone, embodying the chilling reality that such darkness can exist anywhere—even in places we might least expect.
Anirban Bhattacharyya, the author of “The Deadly Dozen: India’s Most Notorious Serial Killers” and creator of the television show Savdhaan India, provides a sobering look into this disturbing phenomenon. The views expressed reflect a deep engagement with the subject of serial killing and its implications in Indian society.
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