Haryanvi singer and YouTuber Ankit Balyan was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside a gym in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli district on Wednesday evening, police said.

The incident took place in the Kotwali police station area when Balyan was coming out of the gym. According to police, the attackers arrived on two motorcycles and opened several rounds of fire at him. Balyan died at the spot.

Police launch probe into killing

Following the shooting, police reached the spot and began an investigation into the killing.

Shamli Superintendent of Police M P Singh said the body had been sent for post-mortem examination. Police teams have also been formed to arrest the accused.

Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the area to identify the attackers and trace their movements.

Speculation over possible motive

There has been speculation that Balyan was planning to contest the upcoming panchayat polls. However, there was no official confirmation from authorities or his associates that this was connected to the killing.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav condemned the murder and called for the possibility of political rivalry to be investigated. He also criticised the law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh and described the incident as an attack on the Jat community.

Ankit Balyan’s YouTube presence

Balyan was a singer and YouTuber with more than 3.66 lakh subscribers. He appeared in videos as a singer and performer alongside different collaborators.

Several of his videos featured guns, firearms and SUVs. His killing has prompted police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and identify those responsible.

Flash floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa district have prompted authorities in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to step up monitoring and preparedness measures over the possibility of increased water flow downstream.

At least eight people were killed in the flash floods in Nepal on Wednesday, while several others, including Indian nationals, were reported missing. The flooding caused extensive damage in the affected areas.

The situation has raised concern in Bihar because several rivers flow from Nepal into the state, including the Gandak, also known as the Narayani, and the Kosi. The Gandak River has been particularly closely monitored following the flooding in its upper catchment area.

Bihar puts districts along Gandak on alert

The Bihar government has formed a high-level committee to continuously monitor the situation and assess the possible impact of a sudden increase in water flow.

Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police were monitoring the situation. He also said he was holding a meeting on the issue and would visit the affected areas if required.

Bihar Health Minister Nishant Kumar said the Health Department was also on alert and that meetings were being held so assistance could be provided quickly if necessary.

The state’s Disaster Management Department said the situation was being monitored because of the flash floods in the upper catchment area of the Gandak River in Nepal and the possibility of a sudden surge in water flow.

The administration has advised people living near the Gandak River and in low-lying areas to remain cautious and avoid going unnecessarily close to the river. Residents have also been asked not to believe rumours and to follow information issued by the administration.

Uttar Pradesh alerts Maharajganj and Kushinagar

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Maharajganj and Kushinagar districts had been put on alert following rising water levels in the Gandak and Narayani rivers.

The local administration has been instructed to remain vigilant and make the necessary preparations in case the situation worsens.

Other major rivers flowing from Nepal into Uttar Pradesh include the Ghaghara, Sharda, Gandak and Rapti.

Hundreds reported missing in Nepal

The flooding in Nepal has also raised concerns over the safety of people in the affected region.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 384 travellers were reported missing from the flood-hit area. This included 291 foreigners and 93 Nepali nationals. Among the missing foreign nationals were 105 Indians.

At least 26 Nepal Police personnel were also reported missing in Rasuwa, while the Armed Police Force said seven of its personnel were missing.

The floodwater reportedly entered from the Tibetan side of the border and caused extensive damage, including washing away several villages in Nepal.

What has Bihar advised residents to do?

People living along the Gandak River and in low-lying areas have been asked to remain alert, avoid unnecessary movement near the river and follow official instructions if water levels rise or a warning is issued.

Residents have also been advised to rely on official information instead of rumours.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit Manipur in the first week of October, with the proposed visit coming amid an intensified political and civil-society campaign for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census and delimitation exercises.

According to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Shah will lay the foundation stone for a medical college in Senapati district and oversee other development projects during his visit.

The proposed visit was discussed during Shah’s meeting with Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh in Delhi on Wednesday. The Chief Minister’s Secretariat said the Home Minister also assured that the Centre would fulfil the wishes of the people of Manipur.

Shah’s first Manipur visit since April 2024

The October visit will be Shah’s first trip to Manipur since April 15, 2024, when he addressed an election rally in Imphal.

His previous extended visit came from May 29 to June 1, 2023, shortly after ethnic violence broke out in the state. During that four-day visit, Shah met representatives of different communities, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

At least 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless since May 2023 due to ethnic violence in Manipur’s hill districts.

Following continued clashes and the resignation of then Chief Minister N Biren Singh, President’s Rule was imposed in the state on February 13, 2025. It was lifted on February 4, nearly a year later, after which Yumnam Khemchand Singh became Chief Minister.

Medical college planned in Senapati

The Manipur cabinet recently decided to establish a medical college in Senapati district, which is predominantly inhabited by the Naga community.

The proposed Senapati Medical College is expected to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the hill district while expanding access to medical education and creating employment opportunities.

During his proposed October visit, Shah is expected to lay the foundation stone for the project.

NRC-before-Census demand gains momentum

Shah’s proposed visit comes as the demand for updating the NRC before the Census and delimitation exercises gains political momentum in Manipur.

Those supporting the demand argue that identification of genuine Indian citizens should take place before the Census and subsequent delimitation process.

The issue has also reached New Delhi, with a group of Manipur legislators travelling to the national capital to raise the demand with Central leaders. The legislators have been meeting Union ministers and seeking the Centre’s intervention.

Separately, a delegation representing 14 civil society organisations from Manipur is also in Delhi for discussions with Union ministers and Central officials.

Led by 14-CSO Convenor Shanta Nahakpam, the delegation represents different sections and communities of the state and has been seeking citizenship identification before the Census and delimitation exercises.

The parallel efforts by legislators and civil society groups underline the political significance of the NRC issue in Manipur.

At the same time, the sequencing of the NRC, Census and delimitation remains a sensitive matter, with differing views among communities in the state. Any citizenship-identification exercise would therefore involve questions around legality, transparency and representation.

Focus on road connectivity and return to normalcy

The proposed visit also comes as the state government highlights improvements in road connectivity as signs of a gradual return to normalcy.

The Chief Minister’s Secretariat said Shah praised the state government for restoring bus services and ensuring free movement along National Highway-2.

Improved road transport is particularly significant for residents who have faced disrupted movement and higher travel costs, as affordable bus services provide an alternative to air travel.

October visit carries wider significance

Shah’s proposed return to Manipur comes at a time when the state is attempting to move from prolonged disruption towards greater stability.

While the Centre and state government are highlighting development work and improved connectivity, the NRC-before-Census demand has emerged as a major political and civil-society issue.

The October visit could therefore provide an opportunity for direct engagement with concerns being raised by the state’s elected representatives and civil society groups.

For Manipur, the larger challenge remains restoring confidence and ensuring that development, political dialogue and engagement with different communities move together.