2 suspects in Haryanvi singer Ankit Baliyan's murder killed in UP Police encounter

Two suspected shooters in the Haryanvi singer and actor Ankit Baliyan murder case were shot dead in an encounter with state police and the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) in Shamli, news agency ANI reported.YouTuber and singer Ankit Baliyan was fatally shot in Shamli district as he stepped out of a gym (Instagram/ ankiitbaliyann)Baliyan, 32, was fatally shot in Shamli district on Wednesday evening as he stepped out of a gym. After his death, a viral social media post allegedly linked to the Gogi gang claimed responsibility for the murder.ALSO READ: 18 rounds fired, one hit his head: How Haryanvi singer, YouTuber Ankit Baliyan was killedAccording to the police, four unidentified individuals arrived in two vehicles and opened fire at Baliyan when he stepped out of the gym around 6.55 pm. He sustained gunshot injuries and while he was rushed to the Community Health Centre (CHC), the doctors were unable to save him.What led to encounter of suspected shootersNarrating the sequence of events that led to the encounter, Shamli SP Narendra Pratap Singh on Monday said the suspects were spotted after police implemented a blockade plan from midnight to 6 am to ensure vehicles could not enter the district without being checked.The police said they spotted two men on a motorcycle around 4 am and tried to stop them, but the alleged criminals opened fire on them. One of the bullets hit a police vehicle. "The SHO of Kotwali was conducting checks near a bridge when the miscreants arrived there. He tried to stop them, but they opened fire, shattering his vehicle's windshield, and turned towards the city," news agency ANI quoted SP Singh as saying."The suspects' vehicle sped away and turned towards Kairana. When they reached beneath the Manna Madra bridge, SHO Dharmendra Gautam of the Kotwali station was conducting checks. He tried to stop them, but they fired at him, shattering the vehicle's windshield. He immediately challenged them. The suspects turned left towards the city; however, since an alert had already been broadcast over the wireless, our SWAT team, surveillance in-charge, SHOs, CO City, ASP, and CO Kairana all arrived at the scene. Subsequently, the suspects suddenly swerved their vehicle to the right, towards this area," he said.As police units closed in from the opposite direction, the suspects turned into a dead-end alley, where they allegedly took cover and fired at the police. In the exchange of fire, two constables sustained critical injuries and were initially taken to CHC Shamli before being referred to a higher medical facility. Both suspects were also critically wounded in retaliatory firing and were taken to the CHC, where they later died while undergoing treatment.(With ANI inputs)