Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 26: In view of the martyrdom of police and security force personnel in an encounter at Pulwama, the finale of the musical talent hunt “Choona Hai Aasmaan” was held on a low key.
On the outset, Chairperson Police Wives Welfare Association (PWWA) Bharti Vaid said that it was a very sad day for us as our colleagues have given supreme sacrifice of their lives in Pulwama. She said that since the participants have come from different part of the State and to encourage and promote them, the programme will be held.
Speaking on the occasion IGP (Pers.) PHQ J.P Singh, Organizing Secretary said that though a grand finale was planned but because of the encounter in Pulwama, the programme was being held on a low key just to bring the competition to its logical conclusion.
Speaking on this occasion special guest, celebrity singer Sukhwinder Singh said that there is lot of talent in Jammu & Kashmir which needs to be nursed and provided platforms like this one.
The competition was held in four categories with four contestants in each category. In senior male category, Firdous Ahmad of Budgam bagged the first position, Surinder of Samba bagged the second prizes. Nazir Ahmad Sheikh of Sopore and Raman Slathia of Samba were given certificates of participation and cash prizes. In senior female category Masrat Aziz of Pulwama bagged first position, Urmila Devi of Doda bagged second position, Sushmita of Jammu, Tasleema Majeed of Shopian were given certificates of participation and cash prizes.
In junior male category Karan Kumar of Samba bagged first prizes, Iqbal Gulzar of Srinagar bagged second prizes, Zaid Rashid of Budgam and Shoib Kandoo of Kishtwar were given certificates of participation and cash prizes and in junior female category Varsha Jamwal of Jammu bagged first prizes, Aarshi Kalas of Udhampur bagged second prize, Kainaat Manazir of Budgam, Ruqaya Maqbool of Bandipora were given certificates of participation and cash prizes.
The judges for the competition were the famous singers and musicians Kailash Mehra, Waheed Jeelani, Qaiser Nizami and Shazia Bashir.
Sukhwinder Singh, Tanya Gupta, Shazia Bashir and Shriya Bandral sang few songs on the request of the audience.