The Jalandhar Rural Police have cracked the hit-and-run case involving 114-year-old renowned runner Fauja Singh within just 30 hours of the incident.
As per information received, Police have arrested 26-year-old Amritpal Singh Dhillon, a Canada-based NRI who fled the scene after the accident.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday morning, SSP Harvinder Singh Virk stated that Fauja Singh was still physically active and followed a daily routine of morning and evening walks.
On the day of the incident, after having lunch in Beas village, Fauja Singh left for his usual afternoon walk and reached the Jalandhar-Pathankot Highway around 3:38 PM, where he was hit by an unidentified vehicle. The driver fled the spot immediately.
After the accident, Fauja Singh was rushed to Shrimann Hospital by his family, where he later succumbed to his injuries in the evening.
The police launched an intensive investigation using CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts, collecting vehicle debris from the accident site.
After reviewing footage and consulting Toyota dealerships, the team identified the vehicle as a Toyota Fortuner.
Further investigation revealed that the SUV had been sold to Amritpal Singh Dhillon, a labour worker on a Canadian work permit valid until 2027. He had purchased the vehicle two years ago from a Kapurthala resident.
Police registered a case under sections 281 and 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Adampur Police Station. The accused was arrested late at night, and the vehicle has also been seized.
Addressing the media, SSP Virk said, "If the accident was unintentional, it was the driver's duty to take the injured to the hospital. Instead, he chose to run away."
As per the police, Amritpal, got scared after the incident. After realizing via media reports that the victim was the legendary Fauja Singh, he avoided returning to Jalandhar and tried to escape using rural routes.