Haryanvi singer Ankit Baliyan shot dead outside Shamli gym in UP
Synopsis
Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Baliyan, whose YouTube channel had reportedly clocked hundreds of millions of views, was gunned down outside a Shamli gym on 26 August by four assailants who fired 20 rounds in under two minutes. The brazen attack on a rising regional music star has triggered local protests and a police investigation, with no arrests made yet.
Key Takeaways
Ankit Baliyan , Haryanvi singer and YouTuber, was shot dead outside a gym in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh on 26 August .
Four unidentified assailants fired approximately 20 rounds in about two minutes ; around 8 bullets struck Baliyan.
He was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.
Local residents blocked a road near Verma Market in protest following the attack.
Police have launched an investigation including review of CCTV footage ; no arrests confirmed yet.
Baliyan's YouTube channel had reportedly accumulated hundreds of millions of views ; his career gained momentum around 2023 .
Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Baliyan was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside a gymnasium in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, 26 August. The attackers opened fire as Baliyan stepped out of the gym; he was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to media reports, four unidentified assailants fired approximately 20 rounds over the course of around two minutes. Around 8 bullets reportedly struck Baliyan, while 5 bullets hit his car. The brazen, daylight attack triggered immediate outrage among local residents, who blocked a road near Verma Market in the city in protest.
Police Response and Investigation
Uttar Pradesh Police launched an investigation into the killing, with teams examining available CCTV footage from the area. Baliyan's family has demanded the swift arrest of those responsible. No arrests had been confirmed at the time of reporting, and the motive behind the attack was not officially established.
Who Was Ankit Baliyan
Baliyan was a rising name in the Haryanvi entertainment industry, known for a digital presence built around hyper-local pop music videos, podcasts, and swagger-driven content. His YouTube channel had reportedly accumulated hundreds of millions of views. Among his well-known tracks were Ek Khtola Jail Ke Bhitar, Savidhan, 112 NE, and Haridwar Haryane Ka.
His professional music career gained significant momentum around 2023, and his output reflected the increasingly popular Haryanvi sound — blending regional identity, energetic performances, and contemporary production. His content frequently featured themes of regional pride, rural grit, and high-energy law-and-order tropes, with several hit titles centred on gun culture and local politics.
Broader Context
Baliyan's killing is the latest in a series of targeted attacks on public figures in Uttar Pradesh, raising fresh questions about the safety of artists and social media personalities in the region. This comes amid growing concerns over the nexus between entertainment, regional celebrity culture, and organised crime in north India. Authorities have not yet ruled out any angle, including personal rivalry or criminal links, as the investigation remains active.
The incident is expected to draw political attention given the victim's public profile and the scale of the attack. Further details are awaited as police continue their probe.
Point of View
And its stars increasingly occupy a cultural space that intersects with local power, politics, and in some cases, criminal networks. The brazen nature of this attack — 20 rounds fired in broad daylight outside a public gym — suggests a level of planning and impunity that local law enforcement will struggle to explain away. Uttar Pradesh has seen several such targeted killings of public figures in recent years, and the pattern demands more than a CCTV review.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Ankit Baliyan?
Ankit Baliyan was a Haryanvi singer and YouTuber whose career gained momentum around 2023. He was known for songs such as Ek Khtola Jail Ke Bhitar and Haridwar Haryane Ka, and his YouTube channel had reportedly accumulated hundreds of millions of views.
How was Ankit Baliyan killed?
Four unidentified assailants shot Baliyan as he stepped out of a gym in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh on 26 August. The attackers fired approximately 20 rounds over about two minutes; around 8 bullets struck him. He was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.
Where did the attack on Ankit Baliyan take place?
The attack occurred outside a gymnasium in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh. Locals subsequently blocked a road near Verma Market in the city to protest the killing.
Have police arrested anyone in connection with Ankit Baliyan's murder?
No arrests had been confirmed at the time of reporting. Uttar Pradesh Police launched an investigation, including examination of CCTV footage from the area, and Baliyan's family has demanded swift action against those responsible.
What was the motive behind Ankit Baliyan's killing?
The motive has not been officially established. Police have not ruled out any angle, and the investigation remains active. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.
