Two suspects in singer's murder killed in police encounter

Two suspected sharpshooters wanted in the killing of Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan were shot dead by police in an encounter in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district on Monday, August 31, 2026. The deceased, identified as Mohit, 22, and Sumit, 24, both from Sonipat in Haryana, were each carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 for their alleged role in the murder.

The encounter occurred near an Indian Gas warehouse on Kairana Road during a joint operation involving the Shamli Kotwali police, Jhinjhana police, and the district SWAT team. According to Shamli Superintendent of Police Narendra Pratap Singh, police intercepted a car and asked its occupants to stop. The occupants fled and allegedly opened fire at the police team. In the ensuing exchange of fire, Mohit and Sumit sustained bullet injuries. They were taken to the District Joint Hospital in Shamli, where doctors declared them dead during treatment. Two SWAT team personnel, Head Constables Harvinder and Pradeep, also sustained bullet injuries in the incident. Police recovered three pistols and 26 cartridges from the scene.

The deaths are linked to the murder of Ankit Balyan, 32, which occurred on the evening of Wednesday,...