Two alleged shooters wanted in connection with the murder of Haryanvi singer Ankit Baliyan were killed in an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Police in Shamli on Monday morning, police said. The deceased, identified as Sumit, 24, and Mohit, 22, were allegedly attempting to flee towards Sonipat in Haryana when they were intercepted by a police team.

According to Shamli Superintendent of Police Narendra Pratap Singh, the two suspects opened fire after being surrounded following information received from an informer. Police personnel retaliated, leading to an exchange of around 20 rounds of firing. Both suspects sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to a district hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

Police said Sumit and Mohit were residents of Sonipat and carried a reward of Rs 50,000 each. Sumit reportedly had one criminal case registered against him, while Mohit was named in 15 cases. Investigators believe the two were among four shooters allegedly involved in the killing of Baliyan. The other two suspects, identified as Satyam and Aryan, remain absconding.

Singer was shot outside gym

Ankit Baliyan, 32, was allegedly attacked on August 26 shortly after leaving a gym in Shamli. According to the investigation, the singer had reached his Scorpio when the attackers surrounded him and opened fire. Police said around 18 rounds were fired during the attack.

Baliyan suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to hospital, where he was declared dead. CCTV footage examined by investigators reportedly showed four attackers fleeing from the scene on two motorcycles.

The killing had triggered anger among local residents, with protests and road blockades reported after the incident. Baliyan's family had also demanded swift action against those responsible.

Family says action provides partial relief

Baliyan's father, Satbir, welcomed the police action but said the family would consider justice complete only after all those allegedly involved in the murder are brought to account.

His sister Reena also said the family was relieved by the action but wanted the remaining accused to be arrested. She said Baliyan had been the sole earning member of the family and appealed for a government job for a family member. She also sought a stadium in his name.

Baliyan's mother Amresh similarly appealed for the remaining accused to be apprehended. His wife Seema had earlier demanded strict action against those responsible for the killing.

Police personnel injured in encounter

Police said two Special Operations Group constables, Harvinder and Pradeep, were also injured during the exchange of fire. They were admitted to hospital for treatment.

Authorities said weapons and the motorcycle allegedly used by the suspects were recovered from the encounter site. A forensic team subsequently visited the location to collect evidence.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said the investigation had identified four shooters allegedly involved in the murder. He said efforts were continuing to trace the remaining suspects and establish the wider network behind the killing.

Investigation examines possible gang links

Police are also investigating whether Baliyan's movements were being tracked before the murder. Investigators suspect that a GPS device may have been installed in his vehicle and are examining who allegedly supplied and fitted it and who had access to the location information.

Police have also been examining social media posts and videos allegedly linked to individuals associated with the Gogi gang. Investigators are looking into whether the singer's previous songs and alleged rivalry with members linked to the gang had any connection with the murder.

Authorities have not yet publicly established the complete motive or role of every person suspected in the case. The investigation remains ongoing, with police continuing efforts to locate the two absconding suspects and determine whether others were involved.

Encounter follows high-profile murder investigation

The encounter comes five days after Baliyan was killed in Shamli. The singer, originally from Bantikhaira village, was known for songs dealing with themes surrounding crime and gun culture in Haryana.

Police are now examining evidence collected from the murder scene, the encounter site, CCTV footage, digital records and other material as part of the investigation. Officials have said that all suspects connected with the case will be pursued through the ongoing investigation.

Adityanath arrived by helicopter around noon, heading first to inspect the local PAC camp before proceeding to the main event at Vijay Singh Pathik Degree College, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation for development projects worth ₹589 crore across the district. Addressing the gathering, he said that the resolve he had made — to send mafia elements either to jail or to hell — felt validated every time he visited the Shamli-Kairana belt.

The Chief Minister used much of his speech to draw a contrast between the district's present and its past. He said that until roughly a decade ago, Shamli was seen as a symbol of fear, alleging that a deliberate effort had been made through Kairana and Kandhla to alter the area's demographics and drive people out. He said women were once afraid to step out of their homes, that killings had taken place in the open, and that law and order had collapsed entirely — a situation he said had since reversed, with criminals no longer holding the same sway over the region.

On religious observances, Adityanath said that raising the slogan "Jai Shri Ram" used to draw lathis and bullets, and that celebrations like Janmashtami and the Kanwar Yatra were once obstructed altogether — a situation he contrasted with the present, where he said authorities now stand in service of these events instead. He appealed directly to Kanwariyas, describing them as descendants of Lord Ram and devotees of Lord Shiva, urging them not to create disturbances over minor issues during the yatra. He also cautioned that if any "wrong elements" tried to disrupt the pilgrimage, they should be identified and removed from the gathering.

Turning to the opposition, Adityanath described the Congress and Samajwadi Party as "worshippers of Jinnah," arguing that residents once went without basic amenities like reliable electricity while development stalled under previous governments. He said Shamli was now progressing rapidly, pointing to the district's position at the meeting point of the Delhi-Dehradun, Shamli-Ambala and Shamli-Gorakhpur expressways, and said the district was increasingly being developed in line with its emerging status as part of the National Capital Region.

Neither the Congress nor the Samajwadi Party had issued a public response to Adityanath's remarks at the time of publishing.