:dateline:Baba Surjeet Singh, Jathedar of Buddha Dal has passed away. �The Nihang Dal leader had been imprisoned for over six years in Patiala Central Jail, where other high profile political prisoners like Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana are kept. �Whilst at Patiala jail, he is said to have suffered a lot of torture.
Baba Surjeet Singh was admitted at a hospital in Chandigarh, where he passed away due to ill health. �While Baba Surjeet Singh was imprisoned, his followers had named Baba Joginder Singh as the acting Jathedar.
Baba Surjeet Singh had been imprisoned in relation to a number of cases, many of them on behest of Baba Balbir Singh, a rival Buddha Dal leader with close proximity with the State Government. �While followers of Baba Surjeet Singh had alleged that cases registered against him are fabricated, Baba Balbir Singh escaped some deadly attacks reportedly planned by supporters of rival faction.
