And because most people bandy words about without reallly knowing what they mean, here's the meaning of the word "thug":
THUG
noun
Definition:
1. brutal person: somebody, especially a criminal, who is brutal and violent
2. Indian robber: a member of a former secret organization of robbers in India, worshipers of the goddess Kali, who strangled their victims
[Early 19th century. Hindi Thag "swindler, cheat, robber"
THUGGEE
noun
Definition:
Criminal method of Indian thugs: the method of robbery and murder by strangulation, characteristic of the former thugs of India.
As I recall, Thuggees were the plot in the Indiana Jones Temple of Doom movie.