The Uttar Pradesh Police has deployed its Special Task Force (STF) to help investigate the killing of 32-year-old Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Baliyan, who was shot dead outside a gym in Shamli on August 26, Senior Police Officer Amitabh Yash has said.


Yash noted that Baliyan was attacked at around 7 p.m. by four men who arrived on two motorcycles and fired nearly 18 rounds, Caliber.Az reports, citing Indian media.


One bullet struck the singer in the head, killing him at the scene.


Investigators are also examining a social media post claiming that the notorious Gogi gang was behind the killing and naming Bholu Shahpuriya as the alleged attacker.


“Immediately following the incident, a social media post surfaced claiming that the Gogi gang was responsible for the attack and identifying an individual named Bholu Shahpuriya as the perpetrator. The authenticity of the social-media post is currently being verified,” Yash added.


He said gangs sometimes carry out attacks or falsely claim responsibility for them in an effort to expand their influence.


Police are investigating several possible motives, including personal or professional disputes, an earlier conflict, a contract killing and gang rivalry.


“The family has not yet levelled specific allegations against anyone, nor have they named any suspects,” Yash stressed.


Four police teams have been sent to neighbouring Haryana to identify the attackers and trace their movements before and after the shooting.


In Yash’s words, the STF is assisting the district police in analysing technical and intelligence inputs…. We hope to solve the case soon.


Investigators are examining CCTV recordings, mobile phone and location data, as well as Baliyan’s contacts, past disputes and possible threats. His social media activity is also being scrutinised, including a video posted about an hour before he died in which he sang a song containing references to murder.


A dispute Baliyan reportedly had with another singer in Rohtak around six months ago is among the leads being investigated. Police are also examining a July 2023 FIR filed against Baliyan and about 40 supporters over an unauthorised roadshow in Shamli.


Baliyan’s postmortem was conducted late Wednesday under videography, and his body was handed over to his family Thursday morning. Around 30 police officers have been deployed outside his home in Bantikhhera village.


Baliyan, a native of Bantikhhera, had previously lived in Sonipat but had been staying with his family in the village for several months. His father, Satbir, is a retired soldier, while his mother, Amaresh, is a homemaker. He was the elder of two brothers, was married and had no children.


He rose to prominence through Haryanvi music and YouTube, particularly following the release of Bhari Court Mein Goli Marenge Meri Jaan in February 2023. The song was later banned.


The Gogi gang is linked to gangster Jitendra Mann, alias Gogi, from Delhi's Alipur area, and has been associated with criminal activity in Delhi-NCR and parts of Haryana.


The gang had a long-running rivalry with the Tillu gang dating back to around 2010, which was linked to several violent incidents. Gogi was killed inside Delhi's Rohini court complex in September 2021 during a court appearance. Two gunmen posing as lawyers who shot him were also killed by police in retaliatory fire.


By Bakhtiyar Abbasov