Two alleged sharpshooters, carrying a reward of ₹50,000 each in connection with Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Baliyan's murder, died during treatment after being injured in what police said was an exchange of fire in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli on Monday.
Additional director general (law and order) Amitabh Yash said the exchange took place on Kairana Road when a police team intercepted the two suspects, Mohit, 22, and Sumit, 24, who were from Haryana's Sonipat.
In a statement, police said the suspects fired at their team, prompting retaliation in self-defence, which left Mohit and Sumit injured. The two were rushed to Shamli's District Joint Hospital, where doctors declared them dead during treatment. The statement said head constables Harvinder and Pradeep also sustained bullet injuries during the exchange of fire.
Police said they recovered three pistols, 10 live and nine spent cartridges of .30 bore ammunition, a motorcycle, a bag, a mobile phone, and ₹5,000 in cash from the two suspects.
{{/usCountry}}Police said they recovered three pistols, 10 live and nine spent cartridges of .30 bore ammunition, a motorcycle, a bag, a mobile phone, and ₹5,000 in cash from the two suspects.
{{/usCountry}}ALSO READ: 18 rounds fired, one hit his head: How Haryanvi singer, YouTuber Ankit Baliyan was killed
Deep Dive
What were the circumstances leading up to Ankit Baliyan's murder?
Why were two suspects in Baliyan's murder killed by police?
How is the police investigating the suspects connected to Ankit Baliyan's murder?
Mohit faced 14 criminal cases in Haryana and Sumit one. Police said they were verifying their criminal records and that further legal proceedings were underway.
The two men were identified as alleged killers of Baliyan, who was shot dead outside a gym in Shamli on August 26.
Their killings are the latest in a series of such "encounter killings" in Uttar Pradesh. Authorities maintain that such "encounters" are mostly in self-defence and are part of the government’s zero-tolerance policy against crime. Questions have been raised about the efficacy of such measures. Some argue that such measures are necessary. Others have flagged potential human rights abuses and the need for transparency in investigations.