Jalandhar, Punjab: In a deeply tragic incident that has sparked grief across India and among the global Sikh diaspora, legendary centenarian marathoner Fauja Singh, aged 114, was fatally struck by an SUV in a hit-and-run incident on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway on Monday. Authorities have now arrested the accused driver, Amritpal Singh Dhillon, a 32-year-old Non-Resident Indian (NRI) who had recently returned from Canada.
The police confirmed that Dhillon was behind the wheel of a white Toyota Fortuner that struck the centenarian near his village in the Kartarpur region of Punjab’s Jalandhar district. Singh was reportedly on his routine afternoon walk when the high-speed vehicle rammed into him, throwing his frail body several feet into the air. He succumbed to critical injuries later that evening.
NRI Confesses to Crime
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harvinder Singh, Jalandhar (Rural), revealed that the vehicle was traced through CCTV surveillance and fragments recovered at the accident site. “We examined surveillance footage from multiple intersections and noticed the vehicle had a damaged left headlight, which matched parts recovered at the scene,” SSP Singh said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
Following the trail, police arrested Amritpal Singh Dhillon from his ancestral home in Kartarpur. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime, admitting he had fled the scene “out of panic.” He said he was returning home from Bhogpur after selling a mobile phone when the incident occurred.
SUV Traced to Multiple Owners
Investigations revealed that the SUV had changed hands several times before ending up with Dhillon. He had purchased the vehicle two years ago from a local seller named Ravindra Singh of Rurhampur. Authorities have since recovered the vehicle as evidence.
A formal case has been registered under Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rash driving and Section 105 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Further charges could be added as the investigation continues.
Community in Mourning
Fauja Singh, often referred to as the “Turbaned Tornado,” was a symbol of endurance, resilience, and the boundless possibilities of the human spirit. Having taken up running in his 80s, Singh went on to become the world’s oldest marathoner, completing several international marathons well past the age of 100.
He was a revered figure not only in India but globally, particularly within the South Asian diaspora in the UK and Canada, where he often ran to raise funds for humanitarian causes.
Singh’s death has led to an outpouring of condolences from athletes, public figures, and ordinary citizens alike. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tweeted, “Fauja Singh ji was a living legend. His discipline and optimism inspired generations. His tragic death is an irreparable loss.”
Family sources have confirmed to PTI that the final rites will be conducted within the next couple of days in his native village. The local community has plunged into mourning, and a public tribute ceremony is being planned.
Legacy of the “Turbaned Tornado”
Fauja Singh became an international sensation after completing the London Marathon at the age of 89. He later ran marathons in New York, Toronto, and Hong Kong. Though he retired from competitive running in 2013, Singh remained an active figure in community events and charity walks until recently.
In 2011, he was featured in a global Adidas campaign titled “Impossible is Nothing.” In 2015, he was honored with the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to sport and charity.
Singh’s story continues to inspire documentaries, biographies, and even academic research on aging and athleticism. His death marks the end of a remarkable chapter in global sports history.
