Muzaffarnagar (UP), Sep 4 (PTI) Haryanvi singer Masoom Sharma visited the family of slain singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan in Shamli on Friday and expressed concern over the rising incidents of crime and threats faced by artistes in the entertainment industry. Sharma, along with former Union minister and BJP leader Sanjeev Balyan, met deceased Ankit Balyan’s father Satbir Singh and wife Seema. They conveyed their sympathies to the bereaved family.
Sharma told reporters that he could not visit the family earlier due to security concerns.
The family members reiterated their demand that all the remaining accused in the case be arrested and brought to justice.
Ankit Balyan was shot dead by unidentified assailants on August 26 after he emerged from a gym in Shamli and walked towards his car. Police said four assailants travelling on two motorcycles opened fire on him, causing five gunshot injuries, including two to the head.
On August 31, suspected shooters Mohit, 22, and Sumit, 24, both from Sonipat in Haryana, were killed in an exchange of fire with police on Kairana Road in Shamli. Police recovered three pistols and 26 cartridges from them, while two SWAT personnel were also injured in the operation.
The Uttar Pradesh police had earlier announced a reward of Rs 50,000 each for information leading to the arrest of the two shooters. The reward for the two absconding accused has now been increased to Rs 1 lakh each, police said.
The encounters came hours before Uttar Pradesh DGP Rajeev Krishna described Ankit Balyan’s killing as a “pre-planned conspiracy” involving a network linked to the Gogi gang. He said the investigation had indicated that the singer’s movements were tracked before the murder, weapons were procured from outside Uttar Pradesh, and four assailants were involved in executing the killing.
The DGP said police were investigating the entire conspiracy, including those who allegedly provided resources and weapons, monitored Ankit Balyan’s movements and helped the accused escape.
Teams have conducted raids in several states in coordination with Haryana and Delhi Police. Ankit Balyan’s father had earlier welcomed the killing of the two suspected shooters in the encounter, describing it as “half justice” and demanding action against the remaining accused.
His sister Reena had also sought “complete justice”, while his wife Seema had urged authorities to take action against the entire network.
Police are continuing their investigation into the murder, and efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused. PTI COR CDN ASD ASD
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