For the past seven years, I have worked as a licensed trekking guide. I have seen my share of adventure, acting as a go-between when my clients meet rebels who want money. Or taking them safely past security checkpoints.

Never once had anyone stolen anything from me or my trekkers in the mountains of Nepal. But last month I was robbed in broad daylight on the streets of Kathmandu.

I had just returned from some freelance guiding with a German trekker who had agreed to pay 10 euros a day. At the end of a two-week trek, my stingy customer didn't keep his end of the bargain. But that's another story.

On 19 March, I went to Thamel to a money exchange counter to change my hard-earned euros. At 8AM, I was standing outside the counter when a middle-aged man approached me. He asked me what I did for a living and thinking he might be a prospective client, I answered his questions. Then he took me to a corner, flipped an identity card (I couldn't see it properly) and said he was a CID police officer.

I had been detained by police under mistaken identity before and was treated badly. So when this guy put me in a taxi and took me to Hanuman Dhoka, I remembered my previous ordeal and was scared. Throughout the ride he threatened and questioned me. He wanted to know how I had got the euros, how much I had. Then he took my wallet and went through it thoroughly. I was numb with fear. He said he would put me in prison, hinting I would be framed with harsher charges.

He stopped the taxi some way from the Hanuman Dhoka station and told me to give him all my money. I had no choice but to hand over 135 euros and Rs 900. He went towards the police station and disappeared.

I don't know his name and I never saw him again.

I have thought about this man's language, demeanour and behaviour. I don't think he was a professional conman, in fact he really looked like a policeman. But the fact remains, I was conned out of two weeks of hard-earned money.

We should be telling tourists: Nepal is safe, just be careful in Kathmandu.

(as told to Aarti Basnyat)