Kolkata cops root for PT

Kolkata cops, Darjeeling root for Prashant as 'Indian Idol'



Kolkata/Darjeeling , Sep 22 - 'Indian Idol' finalist Prashant Tamang, who has transformed overnight from a constable of Kolkata Police to a singing sensation, has his uniformed colleagues and people of his hometown going all out to make him win the reality show - forming fans clubs and setting up special phone booths to send votes.

Kolkata Police and residents of Darjeeling are waiting with bated breath for the grand finale of Sony TV's show Sunday - when either Prashant or his rival Amit Paul from Shillong will get the coveted title of 'Indian Idol' based on the number of votes received on SMS or phones.

'It's really a matter of pride for all men in uniform that Prashant is in the top two of 'Indian Idol'. This is the first time in the history of Kolkata Police that a cop has proven his talent in such a big contest. He is an inspiration for all of us,' Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Armed Force) Zulfikar Hassain, who encouraged Prashant to take part in the event, told IANS.

Tamang had displayed his singing talented soon after he joined the police force - he was part of the orchestra band Kolkata Police Live as a lead vocalist. But little did his colleagues know his talent would one day catapult him to fame.

Prashant is a sepoy of Kolkata Armed Police's special force (SF) wing of which Hassain is the joint commissioner. Overwhelmed by the achievement of his junior, Hassain said there were lots of hidden talents in the police force but very few people get a chance to shine.

'Most of us in the police force usually remain absorbed in our rigorous day-to-day work. Since Prashant has set the trend, I believe it will be easy for others to pursue their talents in future,' he said.

Asked about the voting frenzy amongst policemen, Hassain said: 'It's a question of uniform loyalty. I hope all men in uniform - be it army, Kolkata Police, West Bengal police or police of any other state, are enthusiastically voting for Prashant,' he said.

'We have our batch mates and colleagues across India and they all are voting for Prashant,' he added.

In Prashant's hometown Darjeeling, people are doing all they can to give their hero the winning push. A fan club has been formed in the hill town just to consolidate support for Prashant.

Many Prashant fans have opened special phone booths at several places. Several clubs and individuals have also sponsored coin booths at Jorebunglow, Pokhriabong, Sukhiapokhri, Mirik, Kurseong and Kalimgpong areas so that people can easily cast their vote for Prashant before the final showdown.

And many have even contributed money to buy hundreds of mobile phone cash cards at booths for people to drop in and send an SMS for the local hero for free.

'Not everyone has a handset in Darjeeling. So people of all communities have contributed money to set up phone booths to ensure Prashant wins. All communities - Biharis, Muslims, Bengalis and Marwaris - have come forward to help,' said Tenzing Khambachey, a die-hard fan of Prashant.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/112015.html

Hill idol cry echoes in the plains

By Source: The Telegraph on September 21,2007
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Siliguri, Sept 19: Indian Idol finalist Prashant Tamang now has the law on his side.

Members of the Darjeeling Bar Association (DBA) today came out in support of the hill singer who will take on Amit Paul of Shillong in the final of the music reality show on Sunday. The lawyers claimed his win would symbolise the coming together of people across communal lines both in the hills and plains.

"This will be a test of Bengal's unity," said Tarang Pandit, president of the DBA's ad hoc committee, formed to campaign for the Idol hopeful. "In Darjeeling and in Siliguri people across communal lines have come together to vote for Prashant. Now we want the people from other parts of Bengal to do the same."

Pandit was speaking at a news conference called by the committee today. The lawyers, who hail from Darjeeling, are here to campaign for Prashant.

Sankar Majumder, a lawyer of Calcutta High Court, and a member of the committee, said: "The Calcutta Police constable belongs to the whole state, not just the hills."

Majumder has come to the hills from Calcutta to help Pandit with the campaign.

The members, however, did not stop playing the discrimination card. "The national TV channel broadcasting the programme has used cheap and mean techniques to demoralise and insult the hill people. Their portrayal of Prashant as a watchman should never be mistaken for entertainment," said Niraj Tamang, another member.

A mahayajna was organised by a hardware merchant from Darjeeling More here to pray for Prashant's success. The singer's sister Archana was present at the programme. His mother too was scheduled to come, but she could not make it because of ill-health. The puja was performed by Durga Prasad Bhandari, a priest from Sonada near Kurseong. The yajna was followed by a feast.

"Prashant is a son of the soil. We all want him to win," said Asok Mimani, the main organiser of the ceremony.

Today several rallies were taken out in the trade hub to campaign for the Idol finalist. Some clubs have made preparations to watch the grand finale on large screens with the help of projectors.

The voting spree continued all over the town. More than 100 residents at a village in Champasari raised about Rs 6,000 last Sunday. The money was supposed to last till the Indian Idol D-Day. All the funds were, however, exhausted after non-stop voting on Monday itself. "We are now raising funds for the next round of voting," said Lalit Joshi, a resident of the area.