Haryanvi Singer Ankit Baliyan Shot Dead Outside Gym, Echoing His Own Song Lyrics

Shamli, Uttar Pradesh — On Wednesday evening, Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Baliyan stepped out of a gym after his usual workout and never made it to his car.

Around 7 pm near Aryapuri Nala Patri in the City Kotwali area, three or four men waiting outside opened fire. Police say the attackers unleashed roughly 18 to 20 rounds. Baliyan was hit multiple times, including in the head and abdomen. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene. Baliyan reportedly tried to shield himself near his Scorpio SUV as the gunmen closed in, with some accounts saying they pulled open a vehicle door and kept shooting at close range. The assailants fled on motorcycles or on foot. Spent casings and bullet marks on the vehicle were left behind.

The killing has struck a particularly grim note because of Baliyan’s own music. He was best known for the song Bhari Court Mein Goli Maarenge Meri Jaan (“We’ll shoot you in the full court, my love”), a track heavy with gun imagery that has racked up tens of millions of views. The parallel between the lyrics and the way he died has not gone unnoticed online or among those who followed his work.

Baliyan, in his early 30s and a native of Bantikheda village in Shamli, had built a following as a singer, actor, and YouTuber with more than 3.6 lakh subscribers. He spent time living and working in Rohtak and Sonipat in neighbouring Haryana. In recent months he was said to be preparing to contest the upcoming district panchayat elections, though police have not confirmed any direct link between politics and the murder.

Family members and supporters gathered at the scene, with reports of emotional protests and a temporary road blockade as they demanded the attackers be caught. Senior officers, including the Additional Director General of Police for the Meerut zone, have been overseeing the investigation. Police are examining CCTV footage from the area and looking into possible motives, including an old rivalry. A viral social media post claiming responsibility and referencing a song theme linked to a past court killing is also being probed.

The body has been sent for post-mortem. No arrests have been announced yet.For many in the Haryanvi music scene, where songs often mix swagger, guns, and bravado, the killing feels especially close to home. Baliyan’s death is a stark reminder of how quickly the line between performance and reality can blur.