Two minors stabbed to death in Surat over ‘Free Fire online game’ dispute

Surat: Two 17-year-old minors, identified as Azmal Sheikh and Faizan Sheikh, were allegedly stabbed to death by a friend following a dispute over the online game Free Fire near Nanpura Mutton Market in Surat’s Athwa area late Sunday night. CCTV footage of the double murder has surfaced, and Athwa police have launched a search for the juvenile suspects who fled after the incident.

According to police, the dispute originated in a WhatsApp group named ‘Salman Khan’, which had around 60–70 members. ACP Vijay Malhotra said an argument broke out after a member objected to the repeated posting of horse-riding videos in the group. The exchange escalated into verbal abuse, with the use of the term ‘Khandeshi’ reportedly aggravating the dispute.

However, the families of the deceased have alleged that the killings stemmed from a dispute over Free Fire. Mohammad Salman, an uncle of one of the victims, said an argument involving abusive language erupted while the youths were playing the online game. He alleged that his nephew confronted a friend, who threatened him and challenged him to a fight before the fatal attack.

According to police, the confrontation escalated around midnight when the two groups came face-to-face. The accused allegedly took a large meat-cleaving knife from his father’s meat shop, initially intending to intimidate the others. However, during the ensuing argument and scuffle, he allegedly stabbed the two minors repeatedly.

Another family member has claimed that the victims had gone to the spot only to mediate the dispute between their friends. He alleged that the youth originally involved in the argument fled when the accused arrived with a knife, while the two minors who intervened were attacked.

Athwa police rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident and registered a murder case. The bodies were shifted to New Civil Hospital for post-mortem examinations. Police have seized the knife allegedly used in the attack, secured CCTV footage and formed multiple teams to trace the juvenile suspects.

The incident has left both families devastated. One of the deceased minors had no mother, and his father is currently in jail, while the other victim’s father is a person with a disability. DeshGujarat