GUTSY GIRL: Pratikshya in her jail cell in Duwakot that she shares with two other female detainees.

My home is in Taplejung, but last year I came to Kathmandu to go to school and live in Banasthali in Kathmandu. I am in Grade 5 of Sauryadeep Boarding School. On 8 April, some policemen came into our house. It was 4:30 in the morning and we were fast asleep. There were five of them and they weren\'t wearing uniforms. They woke us up and asked us, "Are you Shiva Gurung?" My uncle answered, "Yes, I am Shiva, why are you asking for me this early in the morning?" They answered, "We are police and we\'ve come to arrest you." Then they gave my uncle a 90 day arrest warrant. We put on our clothes quickly. My uncle said, "I can\'t leave my little niece here." The police spoke on the phone and asked, "Shiva Gurung has his niece with her, what do we do with her?" The police at the other end replied: "Bring her along also." So they drove us to this armed police barrack in Duwakot.

The guard at the gate asked us who we were. The policeman said "We are also police" and they opened the gate. They asked my uncle his name and asked, "Do you have any mobile or radio?" My uncle replied that he didn\'t have a radio, but had a mobile. The policeman said, "No one here is allowed to take a mobile inside." My uncle and me went inside. I had thought we were the only ones to be arrested, but inside there were other people, many were my uncle\'s friends. I didn\'t know anyone and I was sad.

The police kept bringing other people after us. My uncle introduced me to the other uncles. One of them asked me, "Why are you sad?" I asked her, "Will they beat us?" He answered, "No one is going to beat us." That made me feel better. He said his name was Dharma Datta Debkota and he was also arrested like my uncle.

Every morning I wake up and wash my face and then go for a walk, and after that have snacks at the police shop. After that I read or study till about 11 o\'clock. Then I go to eat. We get meals in the mornings and evenings. I rest for a while after that. Then study till 3 o\'clock. Then I go for the evening meal and then go for a walk again.

There are 195 people here who have been arrested from protests. Many of them can\'t talk too much and can\'t walk around alone. There are only three women among us. Later 26 more human rights people were also brought here. On 26 Chait we observed Jana Andolan Day and on 27th had a 15 minute blackout. The UN and human rights council were also here and asked us everything. I answered all their questions.

I am all right here. I am happy. Everyone likes me. I am just worried about one thing. I don\'t know if my school has reopened or not. If they let me go I could go back to school. I am waiting for that.

Pratikshya Gurung
Duwakot, Bhaktapur
Armed Police Barrack