Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan, 32, was shot dead in a point-blank attack outside a gym in Shamli district on Wednesday evening, with preliminary information indicating that around 18 rounds were fired at him.
The incident took place around 7 pm near Aryapuri Nala Patri in the City Kotwali area. Police said the attackers arrived on two motorcycles and opened fire as Balyan stepped out of the gym and headed towards his Scorpio SUV.
According to police and eyewitness accounts, four assailants were allegedly waiting outside the gym. Balyan reportedly tried to shield himself by moving towards the co-driver's side of the SUV as a wall obstructed the driver's side. The attackers allegedly pulled open the vehicle door and fired repeatedly at close range. Five bullets reportedly struck Balyan in the head and abdomen, while three hit the front windshield of his SUV.
Balyan was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The attackers fled the scene, and police teams reached the spot soon after. Additional director general of police, Meerut Zone, Bhanu Bhaskar, reached Shamli along with senior officers to oversee the investigation. Superintendent of Police M P Singh said teams had been formed to identify and arrest the assailants. Police are examining CCTV footage from the gym and surrounding areas to identify the attackers and establish the sequence of events. Officials are also looking into a possible link to Haryana and investigating the motive behind the killing.
The murder triggered protests by Balyan's family members, supporters and villagers. Protesters blocked the Delhi-Muzaffarnagar Road, around 50 metres from the shooting site, demanding immediate arrests and strict action against the accused. The situation became emotional after 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, saying, "Don't speak, my son is sleeping."
Balyan, a resident of Bantikheda village in Shamli, had more than 3.66 lakh YouTube subscribers and was known for his Haryanvi songs and performances. His videos often featured SUVs and firearms. He was also known for the song "Bhari Court Mein Goli Marenge Meri Jaan." He had attracted attention during a roadshow in Shamli in 2023, following which an FIR was registered against him and several supporters for alleged violations. There was also speculation that he was preparing to enter district panchayat politics, although police and his associates had not officially confirmed whether this was linked to the killing.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav condemned the murder, alleging that the law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh had been reduced to "zero". He also demanded that the possibility of political rivalry be investigated. Yadav described reports of Balyan's mother mourning with her son's body in her lap as "heart-wrenching" and said members of the Jat community were demanding the immediate arrest of the attackers. Police said no arrests had been made till late Wednesday night and that the investigation was underway.
