Haryanvi singer Ankit Baliyan murder: 2 Gogi gang sharpshooters gunned down in Shamli encounter - The Times of India

**Shamli Police Kill Two Suspected Gogi‑Gang Sharpshooters in Encounter Linked to Singer Ankit Baliyan’s Murder**

Shamli district police on Saturday said they shot dead two alleged members of the Gogi gang while attempting to apprehend them in a “planned encounter” near the village of Kashipur. The suspects, identified as Shamsher Ali and Rohit Kumar, were on a police‑issued lookout list after being linked to the February 27 murder of popular Haryanvi singer **Ankit Baliyan** – a case that had drawn wide media attention for the artist’s lyrics glorifying firearms and street life. According to a press release from the Uttar Pradesh Police, the officers engaged the suspects after they allegedly opened fire, prompting a brief exchange that resulted in the deaths of both gunmen. The police recovered several automatic weapons, ammunition and a cache of cash at the scene.

State officials, including Shamli Superintendent of Police **Ajay Kumar**, defended the operation as a legitimate self‑defence act, stressing that the suspects had resisted arrest and posed an imminent threat to the officers. The police also said that forensic teams have been dispatched to verify the sequence of events, and that the case will be handed over to the Uttar Pradesh Crime Branch for a formal inquiry. However, the families of the deceased have lodged a complaint with the district magistrate, alleging an extrajudicial killing and demanding an independent investigation. Human‑rights groups have echoed these concerns, urging transparency and adherence to due‑process guarantees.

Ankit Baliyan, 27, rose to fame with tracks such as “Gaddi Maut” and “Kaanoon,” which often referenced gang culture and firearms, earning him a sizable fan base in Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. His murder, which remains under investigation, has sparked speculation about whether his lyrical persona attracted retaliation from criminal elements. The recent encounter has further polarized public opinion: some view the police action as a swift blow against organised crime, while others fear it sets a precedent for bypassing judicial procedures. The incident arrives at a time when Uttar Pradesh’s law‑enforcement agencies are under pressure to curb rising gang‑related violence, prompting calls from political leaders for both decisive action and strict accountability.