Before her marriage last year, Rajni Devi Yadav's parents promised her would-be in-laws a dowry package of Rs 50,000 in cash, a TV and a bicycle. But after her marriage with Umesh Yadav of Tangra in Rautahat, those gifts didn't materialise. Things were fine, then Rajni, following custom, returned to her parent's house for a short period. On her return to her husband's house, Rajni was beaten every day by her in-laws who nagged her for the dowry. She finally went home to her parents to ask them to give the presents. They managed to buy a TV, and Rajni thought that would appease her new family. She was wrong. Gagan Dev Baitha, a neighbour who witnessed the beatings said: "Poor woman, she had no one to share her pains with." The beatings were regular and brutal, her husband did nothing to stop them. Rajni died from the physical abuse last week. Her death galvanised some villagers into lodging complaints at the local police station at the district headquarters of Gaur . When the police reached the village for investigations, the Yadav family had already left.