The wife of Haryanvi singer and actor Ankit Baliyan has thanked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after police killed two prime suspects allegedly involved in his murder.
Baliyan's wife, Swati, also called the accused shooters "anti-national elements" and urged the state government to take the investigation to its conclusion.
Speaking to ANI, she said, "Such anti-social elements pose a threat not just to our family, but to the entire state. We have high hopes for Chief Minister Yogi. Only he can dismantle this gang. I am grateful to CM Yogi for taking Ankit's case so seriously. Now that you have started this, please see it through to the very end..."
Baliyan was shot dead in Shamli district on August 26 while he was leaving a gym.
Uttar Pradesh DGP Rajeev Krishna said on Monday that investigators had traced the murder to a network linked to the Gogi gang.
"The investigation has revealed the involvement of a network connected to the Gogi gang behind this murder. On August 26-27, responsibility for the murder was claimed on social media via an Instagram account linked to Rahul alias Bholu Shahpuri, and this claim is also being investigated as part of the ongoing probe," the DGP said.
Following the killing, police launched a district-wide vehicle containment operation to prevent the suspects from escaping.
The operation involved checkpoints and vehicle checks during the midnight hours, eventually leading police to the suspected shooters.
Shamli SP Narendra Pratap Singh said multiple police units were mobilised immediately after the murder.
"Our SWAT team, surveillance unit, and all SHOs, the ASP, and the COs (City and Kairana) were assigned to the case," he said.
Police subsequently intensified checking between midnight and 6 am across the district.
"I had ordered the implementation of a blockade plan from midnight to 6.00 AM to ensure no vehicle could enter the district without being checked. Today, around 4.00 AM, while SHO Virendra Kasana of Hijana was conducting checks near his station, he spotted a motorcycle approaching from the direction of Karnal. He attempted to stop it. Two criminals were riding the bike; they immediately opened fire at him. He had a narrow escape, although his vehicle was hit by a bullet. He immediately sent a message over the wireless. The suspects' vehicle sped away and turned towards Kairana."
The suspects allegedly managed to get past another checkpoint before being confronted again by police.
"Dharmendra Gautam of the Kotwali station was conducting checks. He tried to stop them, but they fired at him, shattering the vehicle's windshield. He immediately challenged them. The suspects turned left towards the city; however, since an alert had already been broadcast over the wireless, our SWAT team, surveillance in-charge, SHOs, CO City, ASP, and CO Kairana all arrived at the scene. Subsequently, the suspects suddenly swerved their vehicle to the right, towards this area," he said.
The police operation subsequently resulted in the deaths of the two prime suspects, while the investigation into Baliyan's murder continues.