Sharjah Police have arrested several suspects in connection with the killing of an Indian expatriate who was attacked on a Sharjah street.

On Wednesday (June 3), Sharjah Police confirmed that the incident took place on Saturday (May 31) and that a number of individuals have been taken into custody as investigations continue.

The victim was identified as Ismail Ponnan Ibrahim Kutty, a 40-year-old Indian national from the southern state of Kerala. He worked at a bakery in Dubai and was known to be active on social media, particularly TikTok.

According to reports, Kutty was attacked in broad daylight and sustained fatal injuries after being stabbed and beaten, allegedly following dispute that escalated on social media platform TikTok.

Authorities have not publicly disclosed further details about the circumstances surrounding the incident or the identities of those arrested. Police have also not officially confirmed the reported social media connection, although multiple reports have linked the case to an online dispute that allegedly escalated into violence. The investigation remains ongoing.

Dubai Police warn against sharing crime videos

The Sharjah case comes days after a separate incident in Dubai in which police arrested a group of men following an altercation that escalated into a knife-related brawl.

According to Dubai Police, another individual was also arrested for filming the incident and circulating the footage online. Authorities said all legal measures had been taken against those involved and that the suspects had been referred to the competent authorities for further action.

Dubai Police reiterated their commitment to public safety and reminded residents that sharing videos of crimes, fights or violations on social media may itself constitute an offence under UAE law. 

Officials urged members of the public to report criminal activity through official channels instead of recording and distributing footage online. Residents were advised to use the Dubai Police smart app's Police Eye service or call 999 to report suspicious or dangerous activity. ICA/Expat Media