NRI held in hit-and-run that killed 114-year-old marathon icon Fauja Singh in Punjab

In a tragic end to an extraordinary life, 114-year-old marathon legend Fauja Singh — affectionately known worldwide as the “Turbaned Tornado” — was killed in a hit-and-run incident on July 14 afternoon near his native village Bias in Punjab’s Jalandhar district.

Punjab Police have arrested 30-year-old NRI Amritpal Singh Dhillon in connection with the fatal collision, recovering the SUV involved and securing a partial confession from the accused within 30 hours of the incident.

Dhillon, a resident of Dasupur village in Kartarpur and recently returned from Canada, was apprehended late July 15 night. He is currently being interrogated at Bhogpur police station and will be presented in court today. Authorities are expected to seek police remand.

According to police, Dhillon admitted during questioning that he was returning from Mukerian after selling his phone when his Toyota Fortuner struck an elderly pedestrian near Bias Pind. “He claimed he didn’t realise the victim was Fauja Singh until he later saw news reports,” a police official said.

Investigators say the vehicle was traced through surveillance and registration data. Initially registered under a Kapurthala resident, Varinder Singh, the SUV was found to have been sold to Dhillon two years ago. After the collision, Dhillon allegedly avoided entering Jalandhar city, instead taking a detour through multiple villages before returning to his hometown in Kartarpur.

Dhillon’s family, police added, is largely based in Canada — his mother and three sisters continue to reside there.

Fauja Singh, who rose to global fame for defying age and completing marathons well past the age of 100, was on his routine afternoon walk around 3:30 pm when he was struck. The news of his death was first shared by author Khushwant Singh on social media after confirming with the family. “My Turbaned Tornado is no more… Rest in peace, my dear Fauja,” he posted on X.

A towering figure in the world of endurance running, Fauja Singh became a beacon of hope and resilience — especially for senior citizens — breaking numerous records and inspiring countless across the globe. His sudden, tragic end has sent shockwaves through the sporting world and Sikh diaspora alike.

Police are continuing their investigation and are expected to press charges of culpable homicide and hit-and-run under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.