Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan, 32, was shot dead in a point-blank attack outside a gym in Shamli district on Wednesday evening. Preliminary information suggests that nearly 18 rounds were fired during the attack.
The incident took place around 7 pm near Aryapuri Nala Patri in the City Kotwali area. According to police, four armed assailants arrived on two motorcycles and opened fire as Balyan stepped out of the gym and walked towards his Scorpio SUV.
Eyewitness accounts suggest Balyan attempted to protect himself by moving towards the co-driver’s side of the vehicle, as a wall blocked access to the driver’s side. The attackers allegedly pulled open the SUV door and fired repeatedly at close range. Five bullets reportedly struck Balyan in the head and abdomen, while three bullets hit the vehicle’s front windshield.
Balyan was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The attackers fled immediately after the shooting. Police teams reached the scene shortly afterwards, while senior officers, including Meerut Zone Additional Director General of Police Bhanu Bhaskar, arrived in Shamli to oversee the investigation.
Superintendent of Police M P Singh said several teams had been formed to identify and arrest the assailants. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the gym and nearby locations to trace the attackers and reconstruct the sequence of events. Police are also probing a possible connection to Haryana and working to establish the motive behind the killing.
The murder sparked protests by Balyan’s family members, supporters and villagers. Protesters blocked the Delhi-Muzaffarnagar Road, around 50 metres from the shooting site, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible and strict action against them.
The situation turned emotional when Balyan’s body was brought to the road. His mother was seen holding her son’s head in her lap and pleading with people not to disturb him. “Don’t speak, my son is sleeping,” she said.
Balyan, a resident of Bantikheda village in Shamli, had more than 3.66 lakh YouTube subscribers and was known for his Haryanvi music and performances. His videos frequently featured SUVs and firearms. He had gained popularity for songs including Bhari Court Mein Goli Marenge Meri Jaan, also referred to as Court Mein Goli Marenge.
In 2023, Balyan drew attention during a roadshow in Shamli, following which an FIR was registered against him and several supporters over alleged violations. There had also been speculation that he was preparing to enter district panchayat politics, although neither police nor his associates had officially confirmed whether this had any connection with the killing.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav condemned the murder and alleged that the law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh had deteriorated. He called for the possibility of political rivalry to be investigated and described reports of Balyan’s mother mourning with her son’s body in her lap as “heart-wrenching.”
Police said no arrests had been made till late Wednesday night and that the investigation was continuing.
