New Delhi: An hour before YouTuber and Haryanvi singer Ankit Baliyan was shot dead outside a gym in Shamli in western Uttar Pradesh, he had posted a reel on Instagram, where he was seen singing the song ‘Murder Maar de Sadak ke Upar (commit murder right on the road)’.
On Wednesday evening, at around 7 pm, the police received information that Baliyan, a resident of Bantikheda village in Shamli, had been shot by four unidentified persons while leaving a gym. An officer said 18 rounds were fired at Baliyan; three or four hit him.
According to the police, Baliyan collapsed after being hit in the head and abdomen. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Upon receiving the information, a Shamli Kotwali Police Station team immediately reached the scene, took custody of the body, and began proceedings for the panchayatnama and post-mortem examination.
A senior police officer told ThePrint that teams have been formed to arrest the accused. He said Baliyan used to come to this gym often in the Aryapuri drain track, under the jurisdiction of the City Kotwali police.
“Police have scanned more than 100 surveillance cameras and have found that four men came on two bikes, and they managed to flee the spot. Teams are working to identify the accused. Police have recovered some rounds and casings from the spot itself and forensic experts are working on it,” he said.
Baliyan used to live in Sonepat, Haryana, where he used to make music. “We suspect that Sonepat might have a connection to his murder, and are also in touch with Sonepat Police to identify any suspects or motive,” said the officer.
A First Information Report has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections pertaining to murder at Kotwali Police Station.
An outfit that calls itself the ‘Gogi Group’ has taken responsibility for the killing of Baliyan. In an Instagram post, complete with a lions-and-guns crest, the gang said, “Ankit Baliyan was murdered in Shamli today. I, Bholu Sahapuriya (Sonepat), take full responsibility for this.”
Tagging other handles named “Gogi_Bhai”, “Fazze_Bhai”, and “Gogi_Group”, the post read, “He (Baliyan) used to support our enemies, he had composed a song on the incident that happened with our Gogi Bhai and he used to support our enemies in criminal activities, he got the punishment for this and whoever supports our enemies will face the same fate, this is just the beginning, everyone’s turn will come. Wait and Watch.”
A senior police officer said they are looking into this post. “So far, approximately six to seven teams have begun working across various locations and directions. Work has commenced on analysing technical footage and pursuing other investigative leads. A team has been sent to Haryana to work on the case, while another large team is operating in other areas.”
Who was Ankit Baliyan?
Baliyan hailed from Bantikheda village in Shamli. He lived in Sonepat, Haryana, but had moved back to his village home in recent months.
Baliyan was a YouTuber who created and posted Haryanvi songs. He has a following of more than 4.38 lakh on Instagram and 3.67 lakh on YouTube. He would frequently create songs centered on gun and gym culture.
His song ‘Bhari Court Mein Goli Maarenge (firefight in a crowded courtroom)’ was released on February 15, 2023, and was subsequently banned. Baliyan’s other hit songs include ‘Body Builder’, ‘Magazine’, and ‘Ek Khtola Jail Ke Bhitar’.
Angered local residents blocked the road after the murder, demanding the arrest of the attackers. Baliyan’s family joined the protest too.
Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav condemned the incident, saying that the “law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh has been rendered null and void in the manner in which popular singer Ankit Baliyan was mercilessly murdered by firing 18 rounds at him in Shamli, spreading fear across the entire region”.
“The Jat community has raised its demand for the arrest of the attackers right on the streets. The entire Jat community of Uttar Pradesh considers this an attack on itself and is furious,” Yadav said. “There is a growing demand for the investigation of this murder case to also be conducted from the perspective of political rivalry.”
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
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