Srinagar, Feb 17: Young boys and girls today sang Bollywood and Kashmiri songs as they competed against each other at the zonal level finals of a singing talent hunt programme organised by Jammu and Kashmir police.
 The aspiring singers, who were placed in three categories - seniors, juniors and open - enthralled the audience which mostly comprised of senior police and security officers.
 "It is an attempt to connect to the youth here and promote their talent," Inspector General of Police Kashmir SM Sahai told reporters.
 Six contestants adjudged winners in three categories in this final event of the zonal level will have to compete with other participants in the state-level final to be held in Jammu later this month.
 Khalid Ahmad Malik, who sang a Kailash Kher song and was one of the winners of the contest, said the effort by the police was laudable as it will help people like him who aspire to be singers.
 Malik, a resident of Batamaloo locality of Srinagar said he wants to see development and good future for Kashmiri people.
 However, he was quick to say that such programmes from police will not make much difference to the people.
 "It will not make much difference. People have different mentality and they will not accept this," Malik said.
 His choice of song, 'Lota de mera Kashmir dobara', drew applause from the entire top brass of police.
 "Youth here is under severe pressure and music can be a relaxant," he said.
 Meanwhile a police handout said: “More than two dozen budding singers selected from the three range of the Kashmir valley contested in the finals. Their performances were judged by a penal of judges comprising of Nisar Naseem, Aijaz Rah and Munir Ahmed Mir.”
 “Six contestants were adjudged winners in three categories in this final event. In senior category Masrat Aziz and Bilal Ahmad Sheikh were declared the winners. Nasir Ahmad Wani and Nafeesa Bilal bagged the junior category titles. In open category Nusrat Aziz and Khalid Ahmad Malik were adjudged the winners.”        
(With PTI inputs)

Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
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