Four attackers fired 18 rounds at the Haryanvi singer outside a Shamli gym as he walked to his SUV; police probe the motive behind the targeted killing

New Delhi: Haryanvi singer, actor and YouTuber Ankit Balyan (also spelled Baliyan or Baliyann) died after attackers shot him outside a gym in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh on the evening of August 26, 2026. The attackers fired around 18 rounds at him from close range. Five bullets hit him in the head and abdomen. Doctors at a nearby health facility declared the 32-year-old dead on arrival.

The murder has attracted widespread attention because of the violent themes in Balyan’s music, especially his popular song “Bhari Court Mein Goli Marenge Meri Jaan”, and because a social-media post linked to the Gogi gang later claimed responsibility for the killing.

This report brings together details from police statements, eyewitness accounts, official briefings and contemporaneous reports.

Who Was Ankit Balyan?

Ankit Balyan came from Bantikhera village, also known as Bantkheda or Banti Khera, in Shamli district. In recent years, he mainly lived and worked in Rohtak and Sonipat in neighbouring Haryana while developing his career in Haryanvi music and digital content.

Balyan worked as a singer, performer and YouTuber. He had around 3.6–3.67 lakh YouTube subscribers and more than 4.4 lakh Instagram followers. His videos often showed SUVs, firearms, rural pride and a style of bravado that commonly appears in modern Haryanvi pop music.

He worked with well-known Haryanvi artists such as Masoom Sharma, Raju Punjabi and Aashu Twinkle.

His songs included “112 NE”, “Goli Ke Barood”, “Jaat Jatni”, “Agla Janam Jaat”, “Savidhan”, “System”, “Riflein” and “Ek Khtola Jail Ke Bhitar”.

However, his biggest breakthrough came with “Bhari Court Mein Goli Marenge Meri Jaan”, which people also call “Court Mein Goli”. The song has crossed 54 million views on YouTube. Its title roughly means, “We will shoot you in a packed court, my love.” The lyrics describe gunfire inside a courtroom, judges sweating and confrontations involving firearms.

Balyan also attracted local attention in 2023 when he held a roadshow in Shamli. Police registered an FIR against him and several supporters for allegedly violating permission rules.

At the time of his death, reports said Balyan planned to contest the upcoming district panchayat elections. However, police and his close associates had not officially confirmed his candidacy.

How Did the Attack Happen?

The shooting took place around 6:55–7:00 pm near Aryapuri Nala Patri, also known as CB Gupta Colony, under the City Kotwali police station area of Shamli.

Balyan had completed his regular workout at a local gym that he had visited for about a year. He then walked around 20–25 metres toward his Scorpio SUV.

According to police and eyewitness accounts, three to four unidentified attackers waited for him near the area. They arrived on two motorcycles, although some official statements described them as two vehicles.

As Balyan approached his SUV, the attackers opened fire. Witnesses said Balyan tried to protect himself by moving toward the co-driver’s side because a wall blocked access to the driver’s side.

The attackers allegedly forced open a vehicle door and continued shooting at him from close range.

Police and early reports put the number of rounds fired at around 18, although some reports gave a range of 15–20 rounds. Five bullets hit Balyan in the head and abdomen. Three bullets also hit the front windshield of his Scorpio.

People rushed him to a nearby community health centre, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The attackers escaped before police could stop them. Reports differ on whether they initially escaped on the motorcycles or ran away on foot. Police recovered empty cartridges from the scene.

A Dial 112 emergency call alerted the authorities.

Additional Director General of Police (Meerut Zone) Bhanu Bhaskar and Shamli Superintendent of Police N.P. Singh, also identified as M.P. Singh in some reports, supervised the immediate police response. Senior officials, including the district magistrate, DIG Saharanpur Range and SP Baghpat, also reached the area.

Balyan’s Last Reel Raised Questions

About an hour before the shooting, Balyan posted an Instagram reel from inside a car. He sang lines from a song that said: “Murder maar de sadak ke upar… Jo katkega, woh batkega, saara bach jaavega.” The lines roughly mean, “Commit the murder on the road… whoever gets cut down will be scattered, everyone else will survive.”

He also asked his followers to share the reel.

The timing of the post created a grim coincidence and drew considerable attention after his death.

People have also connected the murder with Balyan’s earlier hit “Bhari Court Mein Goli Marenge Meri Jaan”. Some observers have linked the song’s courtroom shooting imagery with the 2021 murder of gangster Jitendra Mann Gogi, whom assailants shot dead inside Delhi’s Rohini Court complex.

However, police have not confirmed any connection between the song and Balyan’s murder.

Gogi Gang Claim of Responsibility

A social-media post that appeared the day after the murder claimed that the Gogi gang had carried out the killing. Some reports linked the post to a user named Bholu Sahapuriya.

The post alleged that Balyan had created a song connected to the killing of Gogi and had links with the gang’s rivals.

Shamli Police said they were checking whether the post was genuine and whether it had any actual connection with the murder.

Police have stressed that the claim remains an allegation and that investigators have not established its authenticity.

Investigators are examining several possible motives. These include personal disputes, old enmities, political rivalry and possible links with organised crime.

Police Investigation Underway

Police have formed several teams to investigate the murder. Investigators are checking CCTV footage from the gym and nearby areas to identify the attackers and trace their movements.

Police teams have also travelled to possible hideouts in Haryana, including Panipat, and Punjab after receiving early leads that suggested the attackers could have connections in Haryana.

Authorities sent Balyan’s body for a post-mortem examination.

As of the latest available reports, police had not announced any arrests.

SP N.P. Singh said several teams were working to identify the accused, determine the motive and arrest those responsible.

ADG Bhanu Bhaskar confirmed the timeline of the attack and said four unidentified people arrived and opened fire when Balyan came out of the gym.

Police have described the shooting as a targeted attack.

Family and Supporters Protest

Balyan’s family members and supporters expressed shock, grief and anger after the killing.

People brought his body onto the road. His mother sat with his head in her lap and asked people not to disturb him. She told those around her that her son was “sleeping”.

His supporters later blocked roads, including the Delhi-Muzaffarnagar route, and demanded immediate arrests.

The administration responded by deploying a large number of police personnel in the area.

Political Reaction

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav strongly condemned the murder.

Yadav said Uttar Pradesh’s law-and-order situation had reached “zero”. He said the killing had created fear across the region.

He also said members of the Jat community viewed the murder as an attack on the community and urged investigators to examine the possibility of political rivalry.

Why Has the Murder Drawn So Much Attention?

Balyan’s music reflected a style of Haryanvi pop that often uses images of firearms, power, rural pride and masculinity.

The fact that someone shot him outside a gym has intensified discussions around the relationship between such music and real-life violence. However, police have not said that his music alone motivated the killing.

Investigators still need to answer several important questions.

They need to identify the attackers, establish who planned the shooting and determine whether the Gogi gang’s social-media claim is genuine. They also need to find out whether Balyan’s reported political ambitions or the 2023 roadshow case played any role.

Police also need to establish whether the attackers acted because of a personal dispute or whether organised criminal groups became involved.

Investigators will use ballistic evidence, CCTV footage, forensic material and other leads to determine the direction of the case.

Investigation Continues

As of August 27, 2026, Shamli Police continued to investigate the murder under the supervision of senior officers.

Police had not reported any arrests, and authorities had not officially established the motive.

Balyan’s family, local residents and fans continue to demand quick arrests and a clear explanation of why the attackers targeted him.

This report uses details from contemporaneous police statements, official briefings and verified reporting. Investigators and any future court proceedings may provide additional information as the case develops.