World's oldest marathoner Fauja Singh dies after hit-and-run in Punjab; NRI arrested

Punjab's legendary marathoner Fauja Singh, known globally as the Turbaned Tornado, tragically passed away at the age of 114 after being hit by an SUV on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway near his native village, Bhayaspur. The incident occurred on Monday when a speeding Toyota Fortuner fatally struck Singh while he was walking. The force of the impact reportedly hurled him nearly 7 feet into the air.

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The alleged driver, Amritpal Singh Dhillon, a Canada-based NRI, was arrested from Kartarpur. According to the police, Dhillon did not stop the vehicle after the collision and fled the scene. Investigators tracked the SUV through CCTV footage and traced the suspect based on the number plate. The vehicle, which had changed hands recently and had a tyre replaced just before the incident, has now been seized.

During interrogation, Dhillon claimed ignorance about the victim’s identity until he saw news reports. He said he panicked post-accident and fled out of fear. Senior Superintendent of Police Harvinder Singh Virk confirmed that Dhillon was allegedly speeding due to work-related urgency at the time.

Dhillon had arrived in India on June 23 and holds a Canadian work permit valid till 2027. An FIR has been filed under Sections 281 (rash driving) and 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Fauja Singh was not just India’s pride but a global inspiration, having completed marathons well past the age of 100. Condolences have poured in from across the nation and world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini paid tributes, celebrating his inspiring life. The Punjab Legislative Assembly also held a condolence motion in his honour.