Ankit Balyan Murder Case: Two Suspected Shooters Killed in Shamli Police Encounter
Two suspected shooters wanted in the murder of Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan were killed in an encounter with Shamli Police and the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) early Monday, August 31. Police identified the deceased as Sumit and Mohit.
The encounter took place in the Shamli industrial area near the Indian Gas godown on the Kairana Road. Police said the suspects opened fire when a joint team attempted to intercept them, leading to retaliatory firing. Both suspects sustained gunshot injuries and were subsequently taken to hospital, where they were declared dead.
Two police personnel were also injured during the exchange of fire. Officers recovered weapons from the encounter site, while teams continued searching the area and gathering evidence linked to the murder investigation.
The two men had reportedly carried a reward of ₹50,000 each for information leading to their arrest. Police had been searching for them since Balyan was shot dead outside his gym in Shamli on August 26.
According to investigators, four armed assailants riding two motorcycles targeted Balyan as he left the gym. Multiple rounds were fired at him before the attackers fled the scene. CCTV footage of the shooting subsequently became an important part of the investigation.
Balyan was critically injured in the attack and was taken to a nearby community health centre, where doctors declared him dead. His killing triggered widespread outrage in Shamli and across the Haryanvi entertainment community.
The suspected involvement of the Gogi gang has added a major organised-crime angle to the investigation. A person identifying himself as Bholu Shahpuri had earlier claimed that the gang was responsible for the killing, although investigators are continuing to establish the authenticity and full circumstances of that claim.
Police believe Sumit and Mohit were among the principal shooters. However, the investigation is not over: two other suspected attackers remain at large, and authorities are working to determine who ordered the killing and whether additional people assisted in planning or executing it.
The encounter comes only days after the murder and represents a significant development in the case. Investigators are expected to examine the weapons recovered, the suspects’ movements before the encounter, their communications and possible links to other members of the alleged gang.
The killing had also become a political issue in Uttar Pradesh. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav criticised the state government’s handling of law and order following Balyan’s murder, adding another layer of controversy around the case.
With two alleged shooters now dead, the immediate focus shifts to the remaining suspects and the alleged mastermind behind the attack. Police will also face scrutiny over the circumstances of the encounter as the investigation proceeds.
The case remains active, and the identities and roles of everyone involved have yet to be conclusively established through the investigation and judicial process.
