By Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (SP)

Mumbai, May 17: K P Lakshmikant Adhikari (40), younger brother of N Dhananjaya Adhikari, who is one of the former founders of Karnataka Jain Sangha Mumbai, and well-known entrepreneur from Goregaon (West) here, and who was a member of Karkala Daregudde gram panchayat, died in an accident that occurred between a motor bike and government bus at Muratangady near Karkala on Sunday May 15 afternoon. His funeral was performed at Nallur Mardrabettu on Monday, in the presence of political leaders, and dignitaries from various sections of the society.

Adhikari, who had been critically injured in the accident, had breathed his last at a private hospital in Mangalore later on Sunday evening. Adhikari was going to Karkala to participate in a wedding function there at the time of the tragedy. He was unmarried. He is survived by five elder brothers including Dakshina Kannada BJP vice president, Jagadish Adhikari, and three sisters.

MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, chairman of Coastal Development Authority, B Nagaraj Shetty, Mangalore BJP city unit president, Srikar Prabhu, district BJP vice president, Umanath, general secretary, Devadas Shetty, and various other dignitaries rushed to the hospital, and paid their last respects to the deceased.

Immediate past president of Akhila Karnataka Jain Sangha Mumbai unit, Adiraj Jain, president, B Muniraj Jain, Nadugoduguttu Siddakatte B Muniraj Adhikari, founder president of Jayasrikrishna Parisara Premi Samiti, Tonse Jayakrishna A Shetty, former president, Vishwanath U Mada, entrepreneurs, Dharmapal U Devadiga, Balakrishna P Bhandary, Bantwal MLA, Ramanath Rai, Congress party leaders, Bahubali Prasad, K R Pandit, and many others expressed shock and grief at the sudden death of Adhikari.

Lakshmikant was an agriculturist by profession. He was active in social, religious, sports, and cultural fields in and around Daregudde, Kellaputtige, Shirtady, etc. He was highly popular in the region because of his altruistic nature and readiness to help and extend advice and guidance to others. He had put in lot of efforts to build BJP as a force to reckon with at the rural level.

Sources in the family said that as desired by the late Lakshikant Adhikari, his eyes were donated upon his demise.