2 shooters involved in Haryanvi singer Ankit Baliyan's murder killed in encounter

Two shooters involved in Haryanvi singer Ankit Baliyan's murder were killed in an encounter with the UP STF. Police said four shooters and two recce suspects have so far emerged in the investigation.Ankit Baliyan was killed outside a gym in UP's Shamli. (File Photo: ITG)Two shooters linked to the murder of Haryanvi singer Ankit Baliyan were killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF), officials said. The two men, identified as Sumit and Mohit, were among four shooters involved in the killing.According to the ongoing investigation, a total of six people have so far emerged as being involved in the case. While four are believed to have carried out the shooting, two others conducted reconnaissance before the attack.Baliyan, a popular 35-year-old Haryanvi singer, was shot dead by four assailants outside a gym in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh. He was known for songs including Bhari Court Mein Goli Maarenge Meri Jaan, which had gained popularity in the region.TWO SHOOTERS KILLED IN ENCOUNTERThe UP STF traced the two shooters, Sumit and Mohit, and an encounter subsequently took place. Both suspects were killed in the police action, according to officials. The development comes as police intensify their investigation into Baliyan's murder and attempt to identify all those involved in planning and executing the attack.The police investigation has so far indicated that four shooters were involved in the actual murder, while two other suspects allegedly helped conduct reconnaissance of the singer and the location before the attack.TWO MEN RIDING BIKE OPENED FIRE: POLICEShamli SP Narendra Pratap Singh said police teams had been conducting intensive checks following the murder of Haryanvi singer Ankit Baliyan, with the SWAT team, surveillance unit, SHOs, ASP and COs assigned to the case.He said a blockade plan was implemented from midnight to 6 am to ensure that vehicles entering the district were checked.According to Singh, at around 4 am, Hijana SHO Virendra Kasana spotted a motorcycle approaching from the Karnal side while conducting checks near his police station. When he tried to stop the motorcycle, the two men riding it allegedly opened fire.Singh said Kasana narrowly escaped, although a bullet struck his vehicle. He immediately alerted other police teams over the wireless, following which the suspects fled towards Kairana. #WATCH | UP | Shamli SP Narendra Pratap Singh says, "Ankit Baliyan, a renowned Haryanvi singer from our area who hailed from a respectable family, was murdered. Following this, our SWAT team, surveillance unit, and all SHOs, the ASP, and the COs (City and Kairana) were assigned https://t.co/uoiJCpQoHG pic.twitter.com/9MB6kIlaDT— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2026When the motorcycle reached the area beneath the Manna Madra bridge, Kotwali SHO Dharmendra Gautam, who was conducting checks there, attempted to stop the suspects. They allegedly opened fire again, shattering the windshield of his vehicle.The SHO then challenged the suspects, who turned left towards the city. However, by then, an alert had been circulated over the wireless network, prompting the SWAT team, surveillance unit, SHOs, CO City, ASP and CO Kairana to move towards the location.Singh said the suspects subsequently swerved their motorcycle towards the area where the police teams had assembled.GOGI GANG CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITYBaliyan was fatally shot outside a gym in Shamli, where the attackers allegedly opened fire before fleeing the scene. The murder triggered protests and demands for swift action against those responsible.The Gogi gang later claimed responsibility for the killing. The gang cited Baliyan's purported links with its rivals and referred to a song associated with the singer as among the reasons for the attack.A post from the Instagram account of Bholu Shahpuria, reportedly linked to the gang, read, “This is just the beginning, everyone’s turn will come.” The gang also issued a threat to the Uttar Pradesh Police, warning of more attacks similar to Baliyan’s killing. (Credits: Instagram/Bholu Shahpuria) Police, however, are continuing to investigate the motive and are examining several possible angles, including old rivalries and alleged political or election-related connections.EIGHT POLICE TEAMS FORMEDFollowing the murder, Meerut Zone ADG Bhanu Bhaskar directed an intensified investigation into the case. The Uttar Pradesh Police had formed eight teams to conduct raids in Haryana and other locations, trace the suspects and recover weapons believed to have been used in the crime.Investigators are also examining CCTV footage, call records and other evidence to establish the sequence of events leading up to the shooting.While the motive behind Baliyan's murder has not been conclusively established, police have been pursuing multiple leads and have stepped up efforts to identify everyone involved in the conspiracy.- EndsPublished By: Devika BhattacharyaPublished On: Aug 31, 2026 06:51 IST