Popular Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh, in an attack that has triggered a police investigation and raised questions about a possible political motive.
The shooting took place in the Kotwali area when Balyan was leaving a gym. According to the police, the attackers arrived on two motorcycles and opened fire. Balyan sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene.
Police teams were immediately deployed after receiving information about the incident. The body was sent for a post-mortem examination, while investigators began examining CCTV footage and other evidence in an effort to establish the identity and whereabouts of the attackers.
The killing has also generated political reactions. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav described the incident as highly condemnable and criticised the law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh. He called for a thorough investigation into whether political rivalry could have played a role in the killing.
There has been speculation that Balyan was considering contesting the upcoming panchayat elections. However, there was no immediate official confirmation that he had decided to enter the electoral contest, nor that his alleged political plans were connected to the attack.
For investigators, the priority is now to establish the motive and identify those responsible. CCTV recordings from the area are being examined, while police teams have been formed to trace the assailants.
The murder of Ankit Balyan has caused shock among his followers and the wider Haryanvi music and online-content community. The circumstances surrounding the attack, including whether it was linked to personal rivalry, political tensions or another motive, are expected to become clearer as the investigation progresses.
