Two suspected shooters wanted in connection with the murder of Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Baliyan were killed in a police encounter in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district on Monday, according to police statements. The deceased were identified as Mohit, 22, and Sumit, 24, both residents of Sonipat in Haryana, and each carried a reward of Rs 50,000 in the case.

The encounter took place near an Indian Gas warehouse on Kairana Road, following a police operation that began with a district-wide vehicle containment strategy implemented after the August 26 murder. Shamli Superintendent of Police Narendra Pratap Singh said a high alert was sounded and vehicle checks were intensified during night hours.

According to Singh, police intercepted a car and asked its occupants to stop, but they fled and allegedly opened fire at the police team. In the ensuing exchange of fire, Mohit and Sumit sustained bullet injuries. They were taken to the District Joint Hospital in Shamli, where doctors declared them dead during treatment.

Police said Mohit had around 14 criminal cases registered against him in Haryana, while Sumit had one criminal case. Two SWAT team personnel, Head Constables Harvinder and Pradeep, sustained bullet injuries during the exchange. Police recovered three pistols and 26 cartridges from the accused, along with a mobile phone, a motorcycle, and Rs 5,000 in cash.

Background of the Murder

Ankit Baliyan was fatally shot on August 26 as he left a gym in Shamli's Kotwali area around 6:45 pm. Police said four assailants on two motorcycles opened fire on him. He sustained critical injuries and was declared dead at a community health centre. A post-mortem confirmed five gunshot injuries, including two to the head.

CCTV footage of the attack, which surfaced on social media, shows at least four men firing multiple rounds at Baliyan before fleeing on two motorcycles. The 1:29-minute video captures him walking out of the gym and heading toward his parked car, with at least 16 rounds fired within about 25 seconds.

A viral social media post allegedly linked to the Gogi gang claimed responsibility for the murder, and police are verifying its authenticity. The post also threatened further violence, according to reports.

Investigation and Police Statements

Police said interrogation of the two deceased suspects indicated they had allegedly been hired by an absconding gangster named Rahul, associated with the Gogi gang. Rahul carries a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his arrest.

Shamli SP Narendra Pratap Singh detailed the encounter sequence: around 4 am on Monday, an SHO conducting checks near his station spotted a motorcycle approaching from Karnal and attempted to stop it. The two riders allegedly opened fire, hitting the police vehicle. They fled toward Kairana, where they again fired at police near the Manna Madra bridge, shattering a vehicle's windshield. Police teams, including the SWAT team, surveillance unit, and multiple SHOs, converged on the scene, eventually cornering the suspects.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order and STF) Amitabh Yash said two alleged Gogi gang shooters had conducted reconnaissance of Baliyan's movements on August 20, identifying his location before the attack. Investigators have so far identified six people allegedly linked to the murder, including four shooters and two who conducted reconnaissance. A joint operation by police and the UP STF is ongoing to arrest the remaining accused.

Reactions

Ankit Baliyan's father, Satbir Singh, welcomed the killing of the two suspects but demanded that the remaining accused also be killed, saying the family had received only "half justice."

"We would like to thank the police for this action. We have received half justice, and the other half should be delivered soon," Singh told PTI Videos.

Singh said four people were involved in the murder, and half of them are still at large. "They should all be killed. Only then will we achieve complete justice," he said.

Bharatiya Kisan Union national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait visited the family on Sunday and set a deadline of September 2 for action in the case.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said the killers "paid the price for their actions," adding that the police will give a befitting response to anyone who attacks them. "The ruthless killers of the renowned singer Ankit Baliyan have been gunned down by the police in an encounter today. The state's law and order situation is excellent today, precisely because the morale of criminals has been completely shattered," he said.

BJP leader Pooja Pal defended the encounter, asserting there is no "Jungle Raj" or "Mafia Raj" in Uttar Pradesh and that the state's law and order situation is "very good." Uttar Pradesh Minister Dharmveer Prajapati said ensuring the safety of common people is the responsibility of both the police and the government.