Haryanvi Singer Ankit Baliyan Shot Dead Outside Shamli Gym, Gang Angle Under Investigation
Popular Haryanvi singer, actor and YouTuber Ankit Baliyan was shot dead outside a gym in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday evening, August 26. The killing has triggered a major police investigation, with CCTV footage and a possible gang connection now at the centre of the probe.
Baliyan had just come out of the gym in Shamli’s Aryapuri area at around 7 pm when armed attackers opened fire. Police sources and multiple reports say four assailants arrived on two motorcycles and surrounded him as he moved towards his vehicle.
The attackers fired a large number of rounds before fleeing the scene. Initial police accounts referred to around 12 rounds, while subsequent reports and CCTV-based accounts have put the number at roughly 18 to 20 rounds. Baliyan suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was killed in the attack.
CCTV footage has since emerged showing the sequence of the attack. Investigators are examining footage from around the gym and surrounding roads to identify the shooters, establish their movements and determine whether the killing was a planned assassination.
The case has taken a possible gang-related turn after a social-media account linked by police and media reports to the Gogi gang appeared to claim responsibility for the murder. The alleged post suggested that Baliyan had links with a rival group and referred to an old dispute. Police, however, are still verifying the authenticity and credibility of the claim.
Investigators are therefore examining several possible motives rather than treating the gang claim as established fact. Authorities are looking into Baliyan’s personal and professional associations, previous disputes and his social-media activity as they attempt to establish why he was targeted.
The circumstances have attracted additional attention because Baliyan was known for songs dealing with crime and gun culture. His popular track “Bhari Court Mein Goli” had reportedly crossed 50 million views, making him a recognised name in the Haryanvi music scene.
There was also an unsettling coincidence shortly before his death. Reports say Baliyan had posted a video on Instagram only hours before the shooting, in which he was singing. The post has since drawn widespread attention because of how close it was to the fatal attack.
Baliyan, who was in his early 30s, had built a substantial online following as a singer, actor and YouTuber. India Today reported that his YouTube channel had more than 3.6 lakh subscribers, reflecting his growing popularity beyond the regional music industry.
The murder has also generated anger among local residents and Baliyan’s supporters. Following the shooting, people gathered and protested, with demands for the immediate arrest of those responsible. Police deployed additional personnel and formed multiple teams to investigate the case.
Baliyan’s family has demanded justice, while the investigation continues to identify the attackers. Images believed to show suspected killers have also surfaced, but their identities and involvement remain subject to police verification.
A post-mortem examination has provided further details about the brutality of the attack. Recent reports citing the post-mortem said Baliyan suffered nine bullet injuries, including wounds involving his head, although accounts of the total number of rounds fired differ from the number of bullets that struck his body.
The killing has raised fresh concerns about the intersection of organised crime, social media and regional entertainment industries in western Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Police are particularly focused on determining whether the alleged gang connection represents the actual motive or whether the social-media claim was intended to create confusion after the murder.
For investigators, the immediate priorities are identifying the four attackers, tracing the motorcycles and weapons used in the assault, establishing their escape route and determining who may have ordered or facilitated the killing.
The case remains under investigation, and the alleged involvement of any particular gang should not be treated as conclusively established until police verify the claim and identify the perpetrators. What is clear so far is that Baliyan was deliberately targeted in a highly coordinated shooting outside a gym, and investigators are treating the murder as a planned killing rather than a random shooting.
