Why Haryanvi Singer Ankit Baliyan Shot Dead Outside Shamli Gym

Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Baliyan was shot dead outside a gym in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli district on Wednesday evening, police said. Hindustan Times reported that unidentified attackers opened fire as Baliyan left the gym in the Kotwali police station area. The Indian Express also reported the killing in its Aug. 27 live news update.

Police told Hindustan Times that the attackers arrived on two motorcycles and fired several rounds. Baliyan died at the scene, according to the report. The Times of India said witnesses and police described several assailants waiting outside the gym and opening fire as the singer moved towards his vehicle.

The shooting triggered protests by family members and supporters. Hindustan Times reported that people blocked the Delhi–Muzaffarnagar road near Verma Market Tiraha, about 50 metres from the crime scene. The Indian Express also reported the road blockade and public reaction after the killing.

Reports about the number of attackers and rounds fired are attributed to police and witnesses. Hindustan Times said the assailants were unidentified and fled on motorcycles. The Times of India reported preliminary information about repeated firing and injuries, but those details remain part of the early account of an active criminal investigation.

The Indian Express reported that Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav condemned the killing and referred to a possible political or caste angle. Those comments are allegations and political reactions, not a police finding. The newspaper’s live update did not report that investigators had established a motive.

Hindustan Times also noted that speculation had circulated about Baliyan’s possible plans to contest local panchayat elections, but said there was no official confirmation that such a plan was linked to the killing. Police had not publicly identified suspects or announced arrests in the reports reviewed for this article. The investigation remains ongoing, and later statements from Shamli police will be needed to establish the motive and identify those responsible.