Karbi women’s rights activist Merina Beypi no more

DIPHU — Merina Beypi, former president of Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong (KNCA), a Karbi women’s organisation, died on Thursday morning at her home in Sarihajan, Bokajan, Assam.

Beypi had been involved in the autonomous state movement since 1986, when it was led by the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and the Karbi Students Association (KSA), while being associated with KNCA. Members of KNCA, ASDC, and KSA have mourned her death.

Maikon Rongpharpi, president of the KNCA, expressed her condolences, saying that Beypi was a strong advocate for women’s rights and justice. She mentioned that she, together with Sing Killing, were lathi charged by the police during an agitation in front of the Bokajan Cement Factory during the autonomous state movement.

As a mark of respect, the KNCA flag was flown at half-mast at the KNCA central committee office here, as well as at all regional committee offices, according to Rongpharpi.

Dr. Numal Momin, Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly and MLA of the Bokajan Constituency, paid his last respects to her and offered condolences to bereaved family members.