SHAMLI: Haryanvi singer and actor Ankit Baliyan was fatally shot outside a gym in Shamli district on Wednesday evening, with police investigating a viral social media post that has allegedly claimed responsibility for the killing in the name of the Gogi gang.The post has surfaced after the targeted killing and is being examined by Shamli Police to establish whether it is genuine and whether it has any connection with Baliyan’s murder.According to the viral post, Baliyan had created a song based on a theme similar to the killing of gangster Jitendra Gogi, who was shot dead inside Rohini Court. Police are probing whether the post and the alleged song could have any bearing on the killing.Shamli SP N P Singh said police were investigating the social media post and examining whether there was any old dispute involving the Gogi gang that could be connected to Baliyan’s murder.Police are also analysing CCTV footage and investigating multiple possible angles, including old rivalries and personal disputes. The exact motive behind the targeted killing has not yet been established.ADG Meerut Zone Bhanu Bhaskar said the incident occurred around 6:55 pm when Baliyan stepped out of a fitness gym.“The victim was a singer named Ankit Baliyan. He was a well-known singer with many videos on YouTube. He had been working out at a fitness gym; as he stepped out, around 6:55 pm, four unidentified individuals arrived in two vehicles and opened fire,” Bhaskar told ANI.Baliyan suffered multiple gunshot injuries. Police personnel rushed him to a community health centre, but doctors could not save him, the ADG said.Senior police officials were immediately sent to the spot following the attack. The Shamli SP and district magistrate, along with the DIG of Saharanpur Range and SP of Baghpat, reached the area. The SP and additional SP of Muzaffarnagar also arrived as the investigation was stepped up.Around six to seven police teams have been deployed to work on different leads and locations. A large team has also been sent to Haryana, while another team is conducting searches and investigations in other areas.“Work has commenced on analysing technical footage and pursuing other investigative leads. A large team has been sent to Haryana to work on the case, while another large team is operating in other areas,” Bhaskar said.“We are confident that we will solve this case very soon and take strict action against the perpetrators,” he added.Police said the incident came to light after a call was made to Dial 112. Shamli SP N P Singh said Baliyan, a resident of Banti Khera, had gone to the gym before being ambushed as he stepped outside.“A call was received on Dial 112. Information was received that one Ankit Balyan, hailing from Banti Khera, had come to the gym. As soon as he left the gym, he was shot dead by three to four men. We have sent the body to the mortuary. Police teams are working,” Singh said.Baliyan’s relatives said they had no information about the attackers or the circumstances of the killing.“The police have assured that action would be taken as soon as possible. We didn’t really know the details ourselves. We weren’t even at home. To this day, we still don’t know who they were or how it happened; we are completely in the dark,” a relative told ANI.The investigation is continuing, with police examining the viral social media post, CCTV footage, technical evidence and possible links to old rivalries to determine who planned and carried out the killing.(With ANI inputs)
