My name is Pradip Dewan and I live in New Baneswor and have been in the education profession for many years. On the evening of 12 December 2004, I was riding my bike towards New Road when I recognised Ganesh Regmi, an acquaintance. I gave him a lift to the optical clinic to New Road but when we got there, the police nabbed Regmi and they bundled me off even though I protested, stating my innocence. I didn't know Regmi very well and wasn't aware of what exactly he did. On 4 January 2005 they produced me in court but since I had been threatened, I couldn't make any statements in my defence for fear that I may be disappeared. My whole being was focussed on trying not to get myself killed. Before taking me to court the police had tortured me to sign a confession saying that I was a Maoist, if I didn't they said they would disappear me. Back in Nakkhu Jail, I found out I was being detained on suspicion of extorting money from a certain Punya Lal Pradhan and Bharat Khadgi on behalf of the Maoists. I don't know either of these gentlemen and there is no question of me extorting money from anyone, I have been taking care of my family through hard work, I don't need to go around demanding ransom money from people. I'm not a terrorist and I'll never be one. The accusations against me are false and anything I have signed I have only done so under duress. There is no justice in this country, an innocent person's life is being obliterated and there is no help from the court system. If this is what they do to me, imagine what they do to those who are real criminals. I appeal to human rights bodies and the legal fraternity for help to rescue me.

Pradip Dewan,
Nakkhu Jail, Lalitpur