Ankit Balyan murder: Reward for two shooters on the run doubled to Rs 2 lakh

The search for two alleged shooters still absconding in the murder of Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan has intensified, with the reward for information leading to their arrest doubled to Rs 1 lakh each, an official said on Friday.

Balyan, 32, was shot dead outside a gym in Shamli on August 26. Investigators are probing the killing as part of what authorities have described as a larger, pre-planned conspiracy.

The two accused, identified as Satyam and Aryan, both from Haryana, earlier carried a reward of Rs 50,000 each.

Search teams have intensified raids at suspected hideouts in different locations in a bid to trace them.

According to investigators, four assailants riding two motorcycles opened fire on Balyan as he was walking towards his car.

Two other suspected shooters, Mohit, 22, and Sumit, 24, were killed in an encounter on August 31.

Three pistols and 26 cartridges were recovered from them, officials said.

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna has described Balyan's killing as a "pre-planned conspiracy".

Investigators are also examining the suspected involvement of a network linked to the Gogi gang.

Sources said raids have been conducted across Uttar Pradesh and in other states to locate the two remaining accused.

Their movements before and after the murder are also being examined as investigators work to establish the sequence of events and the alleged conspiracy behind the killing.

Balyan's family had welcomed the killing of the two suspected shooters in the encounter but demanded that the remaining accused be "eliminated".

Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal president Jayant Chaudhary met the family following the encounter and urged them to maintain faith in the legal and police system.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also spoke to the bereaved family and extended his party's support.