Chandigarh, July 16 (H.S.): The Punjab Police arrested Amritpal Singh Dhillon (26), an NRI and resident of Dasupur in Kartarpur, for hitting 114-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh on Tuesday night. Dhillon’s vehicle has been seized; he had returned from Canada a week prior. The incident occurred on Monday evening when Fauja Singh was walking in his ancestral village, Beas Pind; Dhillon was driving from Bhogpur to Kishangarh.

The crash was severe enough to throw Fauja Singh 5 to 7 feet into the air, and he later died in the hospital. This morning, police, guided by Dhillon, recovered the Fortuner involved. Fauja Singh’s last rites remain pending as family members from Canada and England are expected by Thursday.

Jalandhar's SSP Harvinder Singh Virk stated that the vehicle was registered to Varinder Singh from village Athouli, who revealed that Dhillon had bought the car. Amritpal's father has passed away; he has three sisters, and his mother resides in Canada.

During interrogation, Dhillon confessed he was returning after selling a phone and didn't realize he had hit Fauja Singh. He has been charged under IPC Sections 281 (negligent driving) and 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar