Fauja Singh hit-and-run case: 'Driver was not an enemy,' says son; 'could have shown humanity'
"I have read that he claimed he did not know whom he had hit. However, he was a local and should have known that someone elderly had been struck by his vehicle. Had he not fled the scene and taken my father to the hospital, maybe that could have saved his life," Harvinder Singh told PTI on Friday.
"He was not our enemy; he could have approached us and admitted it was him. At least for humanity's sake, he should have come forward.
Now, the police have taken action in the matter and the case is in their hands," he added.
The final rites for Fauja Singh, renowned as the world's oldest marathoner, will be performed at 12pm on Sunday in his native village of Beas, located in Jalandhar.
Gurpreet Singh Dhillon was arrested on Tuesday night and remanded to judicial custody the next day in connection with the hit-and-run case involving Fauja Singh. Police said Dhillon had returned to Punjab just three weeks ago and confirmed his vehicle was seized.
Originally from Dasupur in Kartarpur, Dhillon had gone to Canada on a tourist visa and later obtained a work permit valid until 2027. He was apprehended at his residence in Dasupur, which is close to Fauja Singh's village, Beas.
Leaders across the political spectrum mourned the passing of the marathoner, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting his remarkable spirit and lasting influence in motivating Indian youth to embrace fitness.
"Fauja Singh Ji was truly remarkable, inspiring India's youth with his unique personality and approach to the vital topic of fitness. He was an outstanding athlete with unwavering determination. His passing has caused great sorrow. My condolences are with his family and his countless admirers around the world," PM Modi said in a post on X.
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