The killing of Haryanvi singer and social media personality Ankit Baliyan has continued to dominate headlines in Uttar Pradesh, with fresh developments emerging just days after his death. Baliyan was shot dead on August 26 by four armed assailants as he stepped out of a gym in the Lala Patri area under Shamli Kotwali jurisdiction - an attack that police say was carried out in a calculated, pre-planned manner.
Addressing a press conference at the state police headquarters, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna laid out the findings of the investigation so far. According to Krishna, the attackers had tracked Baliyan's movements in advance, arranged weapons from outside, and even planned their escape route before carrying out the shooting. He confirmed that the probe has revealed the involvement of a network linked to the Gogi gang - a criminal outfit associated with slain gangster Jitender Mann alias Gogi, who was killed in a shootout at Delhi's Rohini court in 2021.
Given the seriousness of the case, multiple specialised police teams were formed, led by senior officers including the Additional Director General of Police for Meerut Zone, alongside teams focused on law and order and the Special Task Force. Raids were conducted across Uttar Pradesh as well as in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Gujarat as police worked to trace the shooters, who repeatedly changed hideouts after the attack.
Two Suspects Killed In Encounter
The investigation reached a major turning point on August 31, when two of the identified accused, Mohit and Sumit - both residents of Sonipat district in Haryana - were killed in an encounter with Shamli Police. Two policemen were injured in the exchange of fire during the operation. According to the DGP, Mohit had at least 14 previous criminal cases registered against him, while Sumit had one. Two other named accused, Satyam and Aryan, remain absconding as the search continues.
Separately, police confirmed they are also investigating a claim of responsibility for the murder that surfaced on Instagram on August 26-27, posted through an account linked to an individual identified as Rahul alias Bholu Shahpuri. Krishna said this social media claim remains part of the ongoing probe and has not yet been independently verified.
Why It Matters: A Pattern Of Encounters
The swift encounter, coming just five days after the murder, has again put a spotlight on Uttar Pradesh's frequent use of police encounters to neutralise criminal suspects - a practice that draws both strong public support and continued scrutiny from civil rights observers. For many residents and Baliyan's family, however, the outcome has been received as a sign of decisive action rather than controversy.
Wife's Emotional Response
Speaking to ANI following the encounter, Baliyan's wife, Swati, expressed gratitude toward Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the swift police response, while describing the accused in strong terms. She called them "anti-national elements," stating that such individuals pose a threat "not only to our family but to the entire state." Swati added that she held "great expectations" from the Chief Minister, saying, "Only he can eliminate this gang," and thanked him for taking her husband's case seriously. She urged authorities to ensure the investigation is carried through to its complete conclusion, referencing the two suspects still at large.
The Bigger Picture
With two of the accused still evading arrest and the social media claim of responsibility yet to be verified, the case remains far from closed. Police have indicated the investigation will continue to focus on dismantling the wider network believed to be behind the attack, even as questions persist about whether the killing was linked to Baliyan's own music career, which had reportedly drawn threats over content referencing gang rivalries in the past.
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