Shamli, Uttar Pradesh – The investigation into the murder of Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan in Shamli has taken a new dimension following a social media claim of responsibility purportedly from a member of the notorious Gogi gang. Authorities are now scrutinizing the authenticity of this claim as they work to identify and apprehend the assailants.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that indicated police have dispatched four teams to Haryana to probe the alleged Gogi gang connection. The social media post, attributed to an individual identifying himself as Bholu Shahpuri from Sonepat, stated that the Gogi gang was behind Balyan’s killing. However, law enforcement has yet to confirm the veracity of this message.
A murder case has been formally registered against four unidentified individuals based on a complaint lodged by Ankit Balyan’s father, Satvir. The formation of multiple police teams underscores the urgency and seriousness with which the case is being handled, with the primary objective of apprehending the perpetrators.
Meerut Zone Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Bhanu Bhaskar indicated on Thursday that investigators have obtained significant leads. While refraining from disclosing specific details to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing probe, Bhaskar assured that further information would be made public in due course.
According to official accounts, Balyan was attacked around 6:45 pm on Wednesday as he was exiting a gym in Shamli’s Kotwali area. The assailants, travelling on two motorcycles, opened fire at the singer. Balyan sustained critical injuries and was later pronounced dead at a local community health centre. Surveillance footage has captured the four men fleeing the scene on their motorcycles immediately after the incident.
Ankit Balyan, a native of Banti Kheda village in Shamli, had carved a niche for himself in the Haryanvi music industry. His career aspirations were initially directed towards sports; he was a state-level kabaddi player until an injury abruptly ended his athletic pursuits. Following his recovery, Balyan transitioned his focus to fitness and began frequenting a local gym.
His brother, Kapil, shared that Balyan’s kabaddi career spanned until 2013-14, with participation in various competitions across Delhi and Bhopal. The leg fracture necessitated his withdrawal from the sport, after which he dedicated himself to bodybuilding and fitness.
Around 2022, Balyan embarked on his musical journey, dedicating his passion to Haryanvi music. He lent his talents as a singer, lyricist, and composer to over 50 songs. His prolific work in the music scene garnered him considerable recognition, notably with the song ‘Bhari court mein goli marenge,’ which amassed over five crore views on YouTube. He maintained an active presence through music videos and social media engagement.
His social media activity remained robust, with his final Instagram post, a video of him singing a Haryanvi song with the lyric, ‘Murder maar de sadak ke upar,’ uploaded approximately two hours before he was shot. Police are currently undertaking a detailed examination of his social media accounts and online activities to establish a clearer timeline and identify any potential motives.
Beyond his music career, Balyan was actively involved in multiple projects. He was reportedly working on more than 20 new Haryanvi songs slated for release the following month. Furthermore, his family revealed that he was preparing to contest the district panchayat member election from his native village and had aspirations of venturing into the Bollywood film industry.
Balyan had been married for approximately four years to Jyoti, a teacher based in Khajuri Khas, Delhi, and had been residing with her. His father, Satvir Singh, is a retired Army personnel and currently manages farming activities in their village.
He is survived by two elder sisters and a younger brother. Balyan was known for his deep appreciation of Haryanvi culture, which he sought to promote through his artistic endeavors. His professional and personal life had connections to Rohtak, Sonepat, and Delhi’s Khajuri Khas, where he maintained offices for his music-related work. He typically visited his ancestral village once a month, according to local residents.
The tragic incident sparked immediate protests, with Balyan’s family and supporters blocking a road in Shamli to demand swift action and the arrest of the culprits. The blockade has since been cleared, and police officials confirmed that the family is cooperating with the investigation.
Ankit Balyan’s last rites were conducted on Thursday at his native village, Banti Kheda, following the completion of the post-mortem examination.
The killing has drawn sharp criticism from political parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, which have raised concerns about the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh under the current BJP-led government. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav condemned the murder and urged for the investigation to also explore the possibility of political rivalries as a motive.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
