Nepalis find a new icon in singer cop:

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Nepalis find a new icon in singer cop:

A 22-year-old policeman from Darjeeling, who is one of the contestants on the popular Indian Idol show has become the new icon for the Nepalese diaspora with Indian viewers of Nepalese origin whipping up a campaign to boost his chances.

Prashant Tamang, who comes from the Tungsung village in Darjeeling, has hit the headlines in neighbouring Nepal where hundreds are rooting for him.

Kantipur, Nepal's largest circulated newspaper, reported how Indians of Nepali origin have found a new object of pride in Tamang, who despite having a difficult childhood and no formal training in music, won praise from the judges of the contest and survived the elimination round.

"I went home to Darjeeling recently. During my stay, I kept on voting for Tamang through SMS. When our brothers win laurels, it is a matter of pride for all of us," Darjeeling girl Neeruta Singh, one of the most sought-after heroines in Nepal, told Kantipur.

The Nepalese daily detailed how Darjeeling's ethnic Nepalese community was charged up to support Tamang. A photograph showed a signature campaign with Tamang's 78-year-old grandmother Sanjeevani Tamang scrawling on the huge banner.

"I voted for Prashant eight times last night," Tara Kumar, a resident of Darjeeling, said on Friday. "I am sure he will make it big."

Indian Idol is one of the most watched programmes in Nepal and when Abhijit Sawant, the first Idol, came to sing in Nepal, his concerts were packed. This year, the contest for which auditions were also held in London and Dubai saw participants from cities other than the major metros making a mark for first time.