Haryanvi singer Ankit Balyan was shot dead outside a gym in Shamli district

Haryanvi singer Ankit Balyan was shot dead outside a gym in Shamli district.

The incident took place around 7 pm near Aryapuri Nala Patri in the City Kotwali area.

Police said the attackers arrived on two motorcycles and opened fire as Balyan stepped out of the gym and headed towards his Scorpio SUV. Four assailants were allegedly waiting outside the gym, according to police and eyewitness accounts. Superintendent of Police M P Singh said teams had been formed to identify and arrest the assailants.

Balyan reportedly tried to shield himself by moving towards the co-driver’s side of the SUV as a wall obstructed the driver’s side. Balyan was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The attackers fled the scene, and police teams reached the spot soon after. Additional director general of police, Meerut Zone, Bhanu Bhaskar, reached Shamli along with senior officers to oversee the investigation. Police are examining CCTV footage from the gym and surrounding areas to identify the attackers and establish the sequence of events. Officials are also looking into a possible link to Haryana and investigating the motive behind the killing.

Protesters blocked the Delhi-Muzaffarnagar Road, around 50 metres from the shooting site, demanding immediate arrests and strict action against the accused. The murder triggered protests by Balyan’s family members, supporters and villagers.