Ankit Balyan murder: 2 Gogi gang shooters killed in Shamli encounter
Synopsis
Within days of Haryanvi singer Ankit Balyan's murder, UP Police killed two alleged Gogi gang shooters in a Shamli encounter — recovering three pistols and extracting a deathbed disclosure that a Haryana-based criminal named Rahul had bankrolled and armed the hit. Two more suspects remain at large.
Key Takeaways
Sumit (24) and Mohit (22), both from Sonipat, Haryana , were killed in a police encounter in Shamli, UP on 31 August .
Both were allegedly associated with the Gogi gang and carried individual rewards of ₹50,000 .
Police recovered two 9mm pistols , one .32-calibre pistol , 26 live cartridges , and ~ 15 empty shell casings .
The accused allegedly disclosed before death that a Haryana criminal named Rahul organised and funded the murder of Ankit Balyan on 26 August .
Two more suspects linked to the case remain absconding; the search is ongoing.
Two alleged shooters linked to the killing of Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan were killed in a police encounter in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, on 31 August, officials confirmed. The two men, identified as Sumit (24) and Mohit (22), were both residents of Sonipat, Haryana, and were reportedly associated with the Gogi gang.
How the Encounter Unfolded
Shamli Superintendent of Police Narendra Pratap Singh said police teams had launched a district-wide blockade and vehicle-checking operation from midnight. During the operation, two individuals on a motorcycle bearing a Baghpat registration opened fire on police personnel when signalled to stop.
'From 12 a.m. until morning, a blockade and checking drive was in place across the district. During this operation, police personnel were checking vehicles when two youths arrived on a motorcycle bearing a Baghpat registration number. When the police signalled them to stop and called out to them, they immediately opened fire at the police vehicle and personnel before turning around and fleeing towards the Kotwali side,' SP Singh said.
The accused reportedly opened fire a second time when police intercepted them in the Kotwali area. The SWAT team was deployed, and in the exchange of fire, both suspects sustained critical injuries. They were rushed to hospital, where they were later declared dead.
Weapons Recovered
Police recovered an arsenal from the two suspects following the encounter. The items seized included two 9mm pistols, one .32-calibre pistol, 26 live cartridges, and approximately 15 empty shell casings.
What the Accused Allegedly Disclosed
According to SP Singh, the injured men were questioned while being transported to hospital and allegedly revealed details of how the murder was planned. 'When our team questioned them in detail after they were injured while they were being taken to the hospital, they revealed that a notorious criminal from Haryana, named Rahul, had sent them. He provided them with money, arranged the pistols and told them that others coming from outside would meet them on August 26,' Singh said.
The four alleged shooters, according to police, reached Shamli through different routes and assembled at a designated location before carrying out the attack. All disclosures are according to police and remain subject to investigation.
Background: The Murder of Ankit Balyan
Ankit Balyan was shot dead outside his gym in Shamli on 26 August after four assailants allegedly arrived on two motorcycles and opened fire. He died on the spot. A day after the killing, a person claiming to be associated with the Gogi gang took responsibility through a social media post — though this claim has not been independently verified.
Police records show that Mohit had approximately 14 cases registered against him in Haryana, while Sumit had one. Both carried individual rewards of ₹50,000. Two other accused linked to the case remain absconding, and a search is underway to trace them.
Investigation Continues
Authorities are continuing their probe into the murder and the alleged involvement of the Gogi gang. The search for the two remaining suspects — who are reportedly connected to the same criminal network — is ongoing. The encounter marks a significant development in a case that has drawn attention to gang-linked violence targeting public figures in western Uttar Pradesh.
Point of View
Which, if verified, would shift the investigation across state lines and into gang-financing networks. Encounters in UP have drawn scrutiny over due process; every disclosure made to police by dying suspects, without independent corroboration, must be treated as allegation, not established fact. The two absconding accused, if arrested, will be the real test of whether this case moves from street-level shooters to the network behind them.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two accused killed in the Shamli encounter?
The two men killed were Sumit, 24, and Mohit, 22, both residents of Sonipat, Haryana. They were allegedly associated with the Gogi gang and linked to the murder of Haryanvi singer Ankit Balyan on 26 August.
How was Ankit Balyan killed?
Ankit Balyan was shot dead outside his gym in Shamli on 26 August after four assailants allegedly arrived on two motorcycles and opened fire. He died on the spot. A person claiming to be from the Gogi gang later took responsibility via a social media post.
What did the accused allegedly reveal before dying?
According to Shamli SP Narendra Pratap Singh, the two suspects allegedly disclosed while being taken to hospital that a Haryana-based criminal named Rahul had sent them, provided money, arranged weapons, and coordinated the attack. These are police claims and remain subject to investigation.
Are all accused in the Ankit Balyan murder case arrested?
No. Two other accused linked to the case remain absconding as of 31 August. Police say efforts are underway to trace them.
What weapons were recovered in the Shamli encounter?
Police recovered two 9mm pistols, one .32-calibre pistol, 26 live cartridges, and approximately 15 empty shell casings from the two suspects after the encounter.
