Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan was shot dead outside a gym in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, on August 26, in a targeted attack that has since developed into a major criminal investigation.
The killing shocked the regional music community and triggered protests from Balyan's family and supporters. Within days of the murder, the Uttar Pradesh Police intensified its search for the attackers. On August 31, two suspected shooters identified as Sumit and Mohit were killed in a police encounter in Shamli, according to police officials.
The investigation, however, is not over. Police are continuing to search for the remaining suspects and are examining the possible network behind the killing.
Singer attacked outside gym
Balyan had gone to a gym in the Kotwali area of Shamli on the evening of August 26.
According to police accounts, four armed assailants arrived on two motorcycles and opened fire as he came out of the gym. Multiple rounds were fired before the attackers escaped from the area.
Balyan sustained critical gunshot injuries and could not be saved. Reports based on police and eyewitness accounts have put the number of rounds fired at more than a dozen, although different reports have cited different figures.
CCTV footage from the area became an important part of the investigation as police attempted to reconstruct the attack and identify those involved.
The attack appeared to have been carefully planned. Investigators later said that the attackers had tracked Balyan's movements and that weapons had been arranged before the shooting. Police also indicated that the group had planned its escape after carrying out the attack.
Two suspected shooters killed
A major breakthrough came on August 31 when police teams conducting checks in Shamli encountered two men suspected of involvement in Balyan's killing.
Police identified them as 24-year-old Sumit and 22-year-old Mohit, both from Sonipat, Haryana. Officials said both had been carrying rewards of ₹50,000 each.
According to the police version of events, the suspects opened fire when officers attempted to stop their motorcycle. The suspects allegedly fled towards Kairana before another police team intercepted them. A subsequent exchange of fire took place, during which both suspects were injured.
They were taken to the District Joint Hospital in Shamli, where doctors declared them dead during treatment. Two police personnel were also reported injured during the encounter.
Police said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site.
The development has provided investigators with an important lead, but the deaths of two suspected shooters do not mean the entire murder case has been solved.
Investigation points towards a wider network
According to the latest police investigation, the four people who allegedly carried out the shooting may not have acted alone.
Investigators have said that two additional suspects allegedly conducted reconnaissance before the murder, identifying Balyan's location and movements.
This has led police to examine a possible six-person network connected with the crime — four alleged shooters and two people suspected of carrying out reconnaissance.
The Uttar Pradesh Police are also investigating possible links to the Gogi gang.
A social-media post appearing to claim responsibility for the murder surfaced after the shooting. Police have been examining the authenticity of that post and whether the people behind it actually had a role in the killing.
Authorities have also been looking into whether jailed gangster Rohit Rana, also known as Rohit Moi, and another alleged gang member could have links to the conspiracy. At this stage, those connections remain part of the investigation and should not be treated as established facts.
Was a song connected to the murder?
One of the most unusual aspects of the investigation concerns Balyan's music.
A murder-themed song associated with Balyan reportedly became a focus of the police inquiry after investigators examined whether it could have provided a motive for the attack.
The song was reportedly uploaded shortly before his killing, and a subsequent social-media claim attributed the murder to a gang allegedly angered by its theme.
However, police have not publicly established that the song was definitively the reason for Balyan's murder. Investigators are examining the possibility alongside other lines of inquiry.
This distinction is important because social-media claims and criminal allegations can spread quickly after a high-profile killing. Until investigators establish the motive through evidence, theories surrounding the song remain under investigation.
Family demands complete justice
The killing led to anger among Balyan's family, supporters and local residents.
Following the murder, protesters blocked roads near the crime scene and demanded swift action against those responsible.
After the police encounter, Balyan's family welcomed the action against the two suspected shooters but continued to demand that the remaining accused and those allegedly responsible for planning or ordering the attack should also be brought before the law.
Political leaders have also reacted to the case.
Samajwadi Party leaders have questioned why the principal accused and alleged conspirators had not yet been arrested and have demanded complete accountability in the case.
The political reaction has added another layer to a case already attracting significant public attention in western Uttar Pradesh.
Who was Ankit Balyan?
Balyan was known as a Haryanvi singer, YouTuber and performer, with a following built around regional music and video content.
One of the songs associated with his popularity was “Bhari Court Mein Goli Maarenge Meri Jaan.” His online presence extended beyond music, with reports also noting his involvement in video production and political podcast-style content.
His murder therefore resonated beyond the immediate entertainment community, particularly in the region where he had developed his audience.
What happens next?
The police encounter has significantly changed the investigation, but several questions remain unanswered.
Who ordered the killing? What was the exact motive? Who helped plan the attack? And where are the remaining suspects?
Police are continuing to investigate these questions while examining the suspected links to the Gogi gang and the social-media claim of responsibility.
Investigators are also expected to examine the alleged reconnaissance operation, the movement of the attackers before and after the shooting, the source of the weapons and the communications between the people suspected of involvement.
At present, two suspected shooters have died in the police encounter, while the wider investigation remains active. The alleged gang connection and the possible link to Balyan's song are still matters being examined by authorities, not established conclusions.
The case has consequently moved from a shocking murder in Shamli to a wider investigation involving suspected shooters, alleged conspirators and a possible organised-crime connection.
For Balyan's family, however, the central demand remains unchanged: those responsible for his killing and any alleged conspiracy behind it must be identified and brought to justice.
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