A routine gym visit turned deadly for Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Baliyan, who was gunned down in a targeted attack in northern India.
Baliyan was leaving a gym in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, at around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, when a group of armed men opened fire. Police said three to four attackers were involved, with reports suggesting that roughly 18 to 20 rounds were fired.
The singer suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head. He was taken to hospital but could not be saved. The attackers reportedly escaped on motorcycles before police reached the scene.
The Ankit Baliyan murder has triggered shock across the Haryanvi music industry and anger in his home district, where relatives and supporters staged a road blockade demanding immediate arrests.
कोर्ट में गोली मारेंगे मेरी जान
— Amit Singh 🇮🇳❣️ (@KR_AMIT007) August 26, 2026
इस गाने से हिट हुए हरियाणवी सिंगर अंकित बालियान की शामली में सरेआम सिर में गोली मारकर हत्या…
अंकित जब जिम से निकले तो बाइक सवार बदमाशों ने 18 राउंड फायरिंग की उनपर…#shamli@Uppolice @PoliceShamli #HaryanaNews #ankitbaliyan#upnews@dgpup pic.twitter.com/xvkIHu1G99
Gang claim surfaces online
Hours after the shooting, a social media post reportedly linked to the Gogi gang claimed responsibility for the killing. Some reports attributed the message to alleged gang associate Bhole Shahpuriya.
The post has gone viral, but its authenticity and connection to the attackers have not been officially established. Investigators are examining the claim alongside other possible motives, including personal rivalry and gang-related conflict.
For now, it remains exactly that: a claim, not proof.
Shamli police have formed teams to identify the gunmen and are reviewing CCTV footage from the gym and nearby roads. District police chief N.P. Singh confirmed that the singer was attacked shortly after finishing his workout and said the search for the assailants was underway.
Who was Ankit Baliyan?
Baliyan came from Bantikhera village in Shamli district but spent considerable time in Haryana’s Rohtak and Sonipat regions while building his career.
He entered the professional Haryanvi music scene around 2023 and quickly developed an audience through songs rooted in rural culture, youth identity and the region’s swagger-heavy music style. He also appeared as the lead performer in several of his own videos.
His best-known track, Bhari Court Mein Goli Marenge Meri Jaan, helped push him into the spotlight. His catalogue also included songs such as 112 NE, Jaat Jaatni, System, Goli Ke Barood and Agla Janam Jaat.
During his short career, he reportedly worked with established regional artists including Masoom Sharma, Anjali Raghav, Ashu Twinkle and Rahul Puthi.
Baliyan was also believed to be preparing to contest a local district council election. That possible political move is among the details likely to be reviewed as investigators work to establish a motive.
Just hours before his death, the singer shared a video with his followers on Instagram. Its lyrics referenced a street killing, a coincidence that has fuelled intense online discussion. However, the post itself offers no evidence about why he was targeted.
No arrests had been announced at the time of reporting. The investigation remains active, and police have yet to formally identify either the attackers or the person who ordered the killing.
