Chandigarh, July 16:
Amritpal Singh Dhillon, a 30-year-old Non-Resident Indian (NRI) from Canada, has been arrested for allegedly killing 114-year-old marathon legend Fauja Singh in a hit-and-run accident on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway, Punjab Police said on Wednesday.
The tragic incident occurred on Monday near Singh’s native village in Jalandhar district, where he was crossing the road. Singh, fondly known as the Turbaned Tornado, sustained serious head injuries and later succumbed in the hospital.
A Punjab-registered Toyota Fortuner believed to be involved in the accident has been seized. Investigators used CCTV footage to trace the vehicle, which was registered in the name of Varinder Singh from Kapurthala. Varinder informed police that he had recently sold the car to Dhillon, who had arrived in India just a week ago.
Upon arrest, Dhillon confessed, stating he was returning home after selling his mobile phone when the incident occurred. He claimed he didn’t recognize the victim as Fauja Singh until he saw the news reports.
A Life of Endurance and Inspiration
Born on April 1, 1911, Fauja Singh began long-distance running at the age of 89 after moving to England in the 1990s. He rose to global fame for completing marathons in London, Toronto, and New York. In 2011, he became the oldest person to run a full marathon at age 100 in Toronto.
He served as a torchbearer for both the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2012 London Games. Singh retired in 2013 after running the 10-kilometre race at the Hong Kong Marathon at the age of 101.
Nation Pays Tribute
Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned Singh’s death, calling him “extraordinary” and “an exceptional athlete with incredible determination.” He added, “My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world.”