NRI Arrested in Hit-and-Run Death of Marathoner Fauja Singh
Punjab Police have arrested a 30-year-old Non-Resident Indian (NRI) in connection with the hit-and-run death of legendary marathon runner Fauja Singh. The arrest of Amritpal Singh Dhillon, coupled with the recovery of the involved Fortuner SUV, came within 30 hours of the incident that claimed the life of the 114-year-old athlete.
Dhillon, a resident of Kartarpur who had recently returned from Canada, was taken into custody late on Tuesday night. During preliminary questioning, he reportedly confessed to his involvement. He told police he was returning from Mukerian when his vehicle struck an elderly person near Bias Pind. Dhillon claimed he was unaware of the victim's identity at the time and only learned it was the famous marathoner after seeing news reports.
The investigation began after Fauja Singh, affectionately known as the "Turbaned Tornado," was fatally struck by a vehicle while on a walk in his native village on Monday. Police compiled a list of suspect vehicles and quickly identified a Fortuner SUV. They traced the vehicle's registration to its previous owner, Varinder Singh of Kapurthala, who informed them he had sold the car two years ago to Dhillon.
Authorities tracked Dhillon to his village, noting that he had avoided main roads after the accident, instead driving through smaller villages to get home. He is currently being interrogated at the Bhogpur police station and is expected to be presented in court.
The death of Fauja Singh, a global icon of health and perseverance, sent shockwaves through the community. The swift arrest of a suspect has brought a measure of closure to the tragic event, though the legal process is just beginning.
