The 35-year-old singer, with a large following among youngsters, was gunned down in full public view Wednesday evening as he stepped out of a gym in his hometown Shamli. Four assailants pumped 18 bullets into him, according to preliminary investigation. Shamli : A social media post by a man purportedly linked to Delhi-NCR’s notorious Gogi gang that was once involved in a Delhi courtroom shootout has given investigators a crucial lead in the murder of Haryanvi singer Ankit Baliyan.
Investigators are particularly focusing on Baliyan’s popular track which has amassed over 54 million views featuring the lyrics: ‘Bhari court mein goli marenge meri jaan… (We’ll shoot in open court, my dear…)’ and references to accomplices waiting disguised in lawyers’ attire carrying revolvers, closely mirroring the 2021 murder of gangster Jitender Mann alias Gogi inside Delhi’s Rohini court’s room number 207. On Sept 24, 2021, two shooters dressed as lawyers entered Rohini courtroom and pumped exactly 18 bullets into Gogi. Baliyan’s courtroom-themed song was released in Feb 2023. Barely three months later, on May 2, Gogi gang members stabbed Tillu more than 90 times inside Tihar Jail, killing him.
Goldy Brar of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed the murder on social media as “revenge” for Gogi’s death. After Baliyan’s killing Wednesday, Bholu Shahpuriya, described as linked to the Gogi gang, posted a message “claiming responsibility”. This is just the beginning; everyone’s turn will come,” the post said.
sources point to a deadly link between the singer’s viral music and a long-running gang war While police have formed seven specialised teams and the state authorities have tasked UP STF to track down the killers. Police returned fire and killed both the attackers. Authorities later established that Tillu Tajpuria, then lodged in Mandoli Jail, had orchestrated the hit — training the shooters to look like lawyers, conducting recce of court security and supplying weapons. A chargesheet later named Tillu and several others. “Ankit was supporting Gogi gang’s enemies and made a song on the incident involving Gogi bhai. He has got his due. Anyone who supports our enemies will meet the same fate. Around four special teams of UP Police, including STF personnel, are currently operating in Haryana. DIG Saharanpur is leading teams from Shamli, Muzaffarnagar and Baghpat.
Hours before his death, Baliyan had shared a social media clip in which he purportedly mentioned a “special brother” and recited lines about a murder on the road. Agencies are analysing the video and examining whether the Lawrence Bishnoi gang could also have a role in the case. Another purported video of the singer surfaced on Thursday showing him talking about his career and past struggles.