Punjab Police has achieved a major breakthrough in the hit-and-run case involving 114-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh. The rural police, acting swiftly within just 30 hours, arrested the accused NRI Amritpal Singh Dhillon (30). The police have also recovered the accused's Fortuner car (PB 20 C 7100), which was used during the accident. The accused was taken into custody late Tuesday night and brought to the police station for questioning.
Accused Hid in Villages After the Accident
Amritpal Singh Dhillon is a resident of Dasupur village in Kartarpur, Jalandhar district. After the accident, instead of returning to Jalandhar, he changed routes and hid in various villages, directly reaching Kartarpur to avoid police capture. However, the police, conducting continuous raids, finally arrested him from his home.
Accused Confesses to the Crime
According to police sources, Amritpal has confessed to his crime during interrogation. He stated that he was returning after selling mobile phones from Mukerian and his Fortuner collided with an elderly person near Byas Pind. He didn't know at the time of the accident that the person was none other than the famous marathon runner Fauja Singh. Amritpal said that he realized the seriousness of the accident only when news reports appeared in the media late at night. The police have begun preparing to present the accused in court.
How the Clue was Found
Under the direction of SSP Harwinder Singh Virk, the police team first prepared a list of suspicious vehicles around the accident site. The investigation revealed that the Fortuner was registered in the name of Varinder Singh of Athauli village, Kapurthala. When the police questioned Varinder, he said that he had recently sold the car to NRI Amritpal Singh, who had recently returned to India from Canada. Based on this clue, the police were able to reach the accused.
Police to Seek Remand of the Accused
The police are now preparing to present Amritpal in court and seek his remand to investigate the case thoroughly. The police are also trying to ascertain whether the vehicle was speeding at the time of the accident or was being driven negligently. The police have described the arrest of the accused and the recovery of the Fortuner as a major success, which has provided important clues in solving the case.
