Family of Slain Haryanvi Singer Ankit Baliyan Demands Justice as Police Probe Gogi Gang Link
SHAMLI, UTTAR PRADESH – The grieving family of Haryanvi singer and actor Ankit Baliyan, who was gunned down outside a gym on August 26, has issued a desperate plea for “complete justice,” asserting that the masterminds behind the brazen murder remain at large.
The family’s demand for a broader investigation was voiced during Baliyan’s Terahvin (thirteenth-day mourning ritual) on Wednesday. Amidst heavy police security, relatives gathered to perform final rites, even as frustration mounted over the pace of the investigation.
“Main Accused Still Free”
Baliyan’s wife, Swati, spoke to the media following the ceremony, expressing profound disappointment with the current progress of the case. While police have arrested two individuals, she contends that the key conspirators—whom she alleges hail from influential and wealthy backgrounds—have evaded capture.
“We have not been given complete justice yet,” Swati stated. “I have heard that the main accused is from a very good and wealthy family. We are from a rural background… I want the government to take action against all the accused as soon as possible.”
The singer’s widow also made an impassioned request to political leaders to refrain from exploiting her family’s tragedy for political gain. She specifically urged figures like Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to view the situation through a lens of human empathy rather than political theater. She highlighted the severe financial distress the family now faces, noting that they had invested their life savings into Baliyan’s career, leaving them in debt following his death.
A Call for Systematic Accountability
Reena, Baliyan’s sister-in-law, emphasized the need to dismantle the criminal network rather than merely arresting low-level executors.
“It is important to reach the root of the tree, not just cut its branches,” Reena said. She alleged that between eight and ten individuals were involved in orchestrating the killing, arguing that unless every participant is held accountable, the cycle of violence will continue. While the family expressed satisfaction with the police’s active pursuit of suspects, they remained adamant that no “slackness” should be permitted in the legal proceedings.
Police Investigate Gogi Gang Connection
The murder of the Ankit Baliyan murder has sent shockwaves through the regional entertainment industry. Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna confirmed that investigators have identified links to the infamous Gogi gang.
“The investigation has revealed the involvement of a network connected to the Gogi gang behind this murder,” the DGP stated on Monday. Authorities are currently vetting a claim of responsibility posted on a social media account linked to a suspect identified as Rahul, alias Bholu Shahpuri.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Shamli Police launched a high-stakes containment operation. Superintendent of Police Narendra Pratap Singh detailed a tense midnight-to-dawn blockade that led to a shootout with suspects. Two key suspects were subsequently killed during a police encounter, but the investigation remains ongoing as authorities attempt to track down the remaining members of the network.
For now, the Baliyan family waits, hoping that the state’s commitment to the case will result in the apprehension of everyone responsible for the singer’s untimely death.
