Two Suspected Shooters in Ankit Balyan Murder Killed in Shamli Police Encounter
New Delhi: The investigation into the killing of Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan took a major turn after Uttar Pradesh Police killed two men suspected of being involved in his murder during an encounter in Shamli.
Balyan was shot dead outside his gym in Shamli on August 26, when four armed men allegedly approached him on two motorcycles and opened fire. According to the police, the latest encounter involved two of the suspected shooters, while the other two suspects remain on the run.
Two Suspects Identified
The two men killed in the encounter were identified as 24-year-old Sumit and 22-year-old Mohit, both residents of Sonipat in Haryana. Police said the two were allegedly associated with the Gogi gang and had a reward of ₹50,000 each announced for information leading to their capture.
Police records cited in the report indicate that Mohit had around 14 cases registered against him in Haryana, while Sumit had one police case against him.
The encounter comes just days after Balyan’s killing, which shocked his followers and the local community. Police are continuing their efforts to trace the remaining two suspects who allegedly took part in the shooting.
CCTV Captured the Attack
The murder was captured on CCTV, and footage of the incident later circulated on social media. The video reportedly showed Balyan leaving his gym and walking towards his car when the attackers approached him.
According to the report, the assailants fired at least 16 rounds at him. The attack happened quickly, leaving little opportunity for Balyan to escape.
A day after the murder, an individual claiming to be associated with the Gogi gang reportedly took responsibility for the killing through a social media post.
Family Demanded Swift Action
The case also led to growing pressure on the police to identify and arrest everyone involved. Balyan’s wife had threatened to immolate herself outside the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s residence if the killers were not arrested within four days.
Following her warning, senior police officials visited the family on Saturday. The development highlighted the intense distress and anger surrounding the singer’s killing.
The incident also became a political issue, with the Samajwadi Party and Congress criticising the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government over the state’s law-and-order situation.
Singer Had Built a Strong Online Following
Balyan was not only known locally but had developed a sizeable presence on social media. The Shamli resident reportedly had more than five lakh Instagram followers and over three lakh YouTube subscribers.
His music was strongly influenced by themes of confrontation, rivalry, guns and fast cars. Some of his popular songs included Bhari Court Mein Goli Marenge, Body Builder, PTI and Ek Khtola Jail Ke Bhitar.
Interestingly, just hours before his death, Balyan had appeared in an Instagram video sitting in his car and singing lines from his song Baby Badmash, which had been released the previous month. The lyrics included a reference to murder on the road, adding a striking detail to the timeline of events.
From Kabaddi to Haryanvi Music
Before entering the music industry, Balyan had a background in sports. According to his brother, he played state-level kabaddi until around 2013-14 and participated in competitions in Delhi, Bhopal and other places.
His sporting journey came to an end after he suffered a leg fracture. He later turned his attention towards fitness and joined a gym. Around 2022, he began pursuing his interest in Haryanvi music more seriously.
Over the following years, he reportedly worked on more than 50 songs, contributing as a singer, lyricist and music composer. His growing digital audience helped him establish himself as a recognisable name in the Haryanvi music scene.
The police encounter has now added a new chapter to the investigation into his death. While two suspected shooters have been killed, authorities are still searching for the two remaining suspects and working to establish the full circumstances and motive behind the murder.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
