Rajbiraj,Balika ko bikh le mrityu, hatya ko ashanka. RAJBIRAJ: Whereas the world is celebrating the 16-day Activism against Gender-based Violence, a 17-year-old girl reportedly killed self after being abused by her husband in Dighawa of Saptari. Punam Chaudhary Sah of Biraul, Dighawa-1 was found in a critical condition after being poisoned on Saturday. Family members had rushed her to the Rajbiraj-based Gajendra Narayan Singh Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital for treatment. The girl was later referred to the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS). But, she breathed her last while being taken there, said the deceased’s parents. Whereas her husband’s family says it is a suicide, the deceased’s parental family claimed it is a murder. Chaudhary from Rajbiraj-6 had married 19-year-old Suraj Sah from Dighawa recently. Punam’s grandmother Krishna Devi accused Sah’s family of not informing them after the incident so as to hide it. “They informed us only after the girl died,” she said. Meanwhile, an investigation by a human rights organisation found that the girl was severely abused by her husband and in-laws. The victim’s right arm was broken whereas both legs and other body parts had bruises while she was found poisoned, informed the Human Rights and People’s Advocacy Centre (HUPEC). “Her neighbours informed us that she had quarrels with the husband and his mother some days ago,” said HUPEC Vice-Chairperson Uma Pokhrel after visiting the incident site on Tuesday. Chaudhary’s family members had refused to receive the body and conduct final rites demanding an independent investigation into the case. Only after police pledged to launch a probe and take actions against the culprit, they gave funeral to the deceased yesterday. SP Dansigh Bohara said they are waiting for the postmortem report to confirm whether it was suicide or a murder.