Fauja Singh hit-and-run accused Amritpal Singh Dhillon says 'he didn't know victim was legendary marathoner'
PTC Web Desk: Amritpal Singh Dhillon, a 30-year-old NRI, has confessed to his involvement in the fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of legendary marathoner Fauja Singh. Dhillon told the police during preliminary questioning that he was returning from Mukerian after selling his phone when his SUV struck an elderly man near Bias Pind. Unaware at the time of the victim's identity, Dhillon claimed he only realised he had hit the 114-year-old athlete after watching news reports.
The Punjab Police arrested Dhillon, a resident of Dasupur village in Kartarpur, Jalandhar, within 30 hours of the accident. The vehicle involved — a Fortuner SUV — has also been recovered. The police took Dhillon into custody late Tuesday night, and he is currently being interrogated at the Bhogpur police station. He is expected to be presented before a magistrate today and is likely to be sent on police remand for further investigation.
According to the authorities, following the fatal hit-and-run in Bias village, a list of possible vehicles was drawn up. A breakthrough came Tuesday evening when officers identified a Fortuner SUV registered in the name of Varinder Singh, a resident of Kapurthala. Upon questioning, Varinder informed the police that he had sold the vehicle two years ago to Amritpal Singh Dhillon, who had recently returned from Canada.
Investigators said Dhillon, after the accident, deliberately avoided Jalandhar city and took a route through several villages to reach his native place in Kartarpur. He is known to have three sisters, and his mother currently resides in Canada.
Meanwhile, Fauja Singh's younger son, Harvinder Singh, has expressed disappointment that the family was not officially informed about the arrest by the police. “I got to know through local sources. Why didn’t the driver stop to help my father? He could have taken him to a hospital. At least he should have shown some humanity,” he said.
Fauja Singh, fondly remembered as the “Turbaned Tornado,” was hit by a speeding vehicle while walking in his native village of Bias in Jalandhar district on Monday. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after the incident.
- With inputs from agencies
