Family of slain Haryanvi singer seeks Rahul Gandhi's help as arrests lag
The family of Ankit Baliyan, a Haryanvi singer and actor fatally shot in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district on August 26, has appealed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to intervene in the murder investigation. Speaking to ANI, Baliyan's wife Swati expressed disappointment over the lack of arrests, saying, "The police are working hard, but there is no ground-level result. Five days have passed, and no arrests have been made so far."
Swati urged Gandhi to visit western Uttar Pradesh and help ensure justice, citing his prominence among youth and his record of raising public issues. "You are a big leader of this country. You had raised the education issue as well; Dharmendra Pradhan ji had to resign. Please listen to our plea as well," she said, according to ANI. "Rahul Gandhi ji, now we have hope only from you. You do something in this case."
Baliyan's elder sister also made an emotional appeal to Gandhi, requesting him to ensure that her brother's killers are punished.
The murder occurred on Wednesday evening when four unidentified individuals arrived in two vehicles and opened fire around 6:55 PM as Baliyan stepped out of a gym, according to ADG Meerut Bhanu Bhaskar, who confirmed the incident. A viral social media post allegedly linked to the Gogi gang claimed responsibility, as reported by The Times of India. Baliyan was a resident of Banti Khera and was ambushed by three to four men.
Family demands complete justice
On Wednesday, the family held Baliyan's Terahvin ceremony—a Hindu ritual observed on the 13th day after death—with traditional rites and a havan. Police personnel were deployed in the area during the ceremony, as reported by ANI.
Speaking at the ceremony, Swati said the family had "not been given complete justice yet," noting that only two accused had been apprehended so far. "I have heard that the main accused is from a very good and wealthy family. We are from a rural family and do not have a large family," she added.
Swati demanded stringent action against all those involved and urged the government to ensure the main accused does not escape the law. "I want the government to take action against all the accused as soon as possible," she said, as quoted by ANI. "I would also like to tell all the politicians that no one should do politics over this matter. They should understand the pain that we are going through."
She also appealed to political leaders, including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, to understand the family's situation and refrain from politicising the case.
Sister-in-law demands punishment for all involved
Baliyan's sister-in-law Reena also demanded action against all those allegedly involved in the murder. "We want all those responsible to be punished. It is important to reach the root of the tree, not just cut its branches. Otherwise, the same network could emerge again and destroy someone else," she told ANI.
Reena claimed several people were involved in the murder and urged authorities to take action against all of them. "We want all the eight to ten accused in this case to be brought to justice," she said. "Before anyone else does something like this, they should think a hundred times."
Swati also highlighted the family's financial struggles, saying, "Our financial situation is also not good. We have put all the family's wealth into him. Our family is in debt and our only son is gone. Our house has been destroyed in a way. But the saddest thing is that the accused are still roaming freely."
The investigation remains ongoing, with the family pressing for the arrest and prosecution of all those allegedly involved.