Lucknow: DGP Rajeev Krishna on Monday said the murder of Haryanvi singer Ankit Baliyan in Shamli on Aug 26 was a planned contract killing linked to organised criminal activity. He asserted that Uttar Pradesh Police would continue its crackdown on all those involved in the conspiracy.Addressing a news conference in Lucknow, DGP said two wanted shooters, Mohit and Sumit, each carrying a reward of ₹50,000, were killed in an encounter conducted jointly by Shamli Police, the SWAT team and local police personnel.DGP said the operation reflected chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s zero-tolerance policy towards crime and organised criminal networks.“Uttar Pradesh will not be allowed to become a haven for organised gangs. Action will continue against criminals irrespective of where they operate from,” he said.According to police, four armed assailants opened fire on Baliyan, killing him on Aug 26.During the investigation, police found that the accused had conducted detailed surveillance of Baliyan before executing the attack. Investigators collected evidence related to the suspects’ movements, hideouts and financial transactions. Raids were carried out at multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.According to police, the two accused opened fire on the police team during the encounter, injuring head constables Harvinder and Pradeep. The police retaliated, injuring both suspects. They were rushed to a district hospital in Shamli, where doctors declared them dead.He said investigators were examining the case in the context of a larger gang rivalry. The murder is also being linked to the killing of gangster Gogi, with members of the gang allegedly considering Baliyan associated with a rival faction.The investigation further revealed that Baliyan had clarified that his role in a particular song was limited to performing it and that neither the lyrics nor the composition belonged to him. However, the gang allegedly viewed the song as being linked to a rival group.“The murder was not a sudden act. Preliminary findings point towards a well-planned conspiracy,” DGP said. He also announced a reward of ₹2 lakh for Shamli Police and STF teams for the successful operation.
