Fauja Singh, the 114-year-old marathon runner famously known as the “Turbaned Tornado”, d*ed in a tragic hit-and-run incident on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway on Monday afternoon. He was reportedly crossing the road when a white Toyota Fortuner rammed into him and fled the scene. Singh suffered severe head injuries and was rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed. A day later, police traced and seized the vehicle involved in the accident and arrested the accused Amritpal Singh Dhillon from his native village.
Who is Amritpal Singh Dhillon?
Amritpal Singh Dhillon is a 26-year-old man originally from Kartarpur in Jalandhar. He currently lives in Canada with his mother and three sisters and works as a labourer. He moved there eight years ago after his father’s death and holds a Canadian work permit valid till 2027.
Dhillon visits Punjab once a year and had come to India on June 23 this time to repair his house. On the day of the accident, he was reportedly returning home after selling his mobile phone when his car hit Fauja Singh. He claimed he panicked and drove away out of fear.
He also told police he had no idea the victim was Fauja Singh and only realised it later through news reports. The vehicle he was driving was a Punjab-registered Toyota Fortuner, and he held a valid driving license. Police said Dhillon has confessed to the incident during interrogation.
