- By Chetna Shree
- Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:49 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Fauja Singh Death: Police arrested an NRI driver after 114-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh was killed in a hit-and-run accident on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway. The police earlier identified and seized the vehicle allegedly involved in the hit-and-run case - a Punjab-registered Toyota Fortuner.
Amritpal Singh Dhillon, a twenty-six-year-old non-resident Indian (NRI), who allegedly hit Fauja Singh on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway while he was crossing the road at his native village in Punjab, has been arrested, police officials said on Wednesday. Dhillon, originally from Kartarpur in Jalandhar, lived with his family in Canada.
He came to India a week ago and was then caught in his village. Dhillon admitted the crime and said that he was returning home after selling the mobile phone, NDTV reported. The accused did not know about Fauja Singh and came to know about him through the news.
The police identified the accused’s car through CCTV footage, in which his vehicle number was seen. Multiple teams of the police zeroed in on Dhillon. Further investigation revealed that the car was registered in the name of Varinder Singh, a resident of Kapurthala. The police officials interrogated Singh, who said that he had sold his car to the accused.
Fauja Singh, popularly known as Turbaned Tornado, suffered head injuries in the hit-and-run accident. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to pay tribute to Singh, saying, “Fauja Singh Ji was extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness. He was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world.”