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MANGALURU: A candlelight march was held on Saturday, protesting the incident of the three-year-old LKG student who was physically abused by her school van driver.

 The incident evoked angst both offline and online, with the Justice for Baby Nirbhaya community garnering over 3,851 Likes on Facebook.

 The candlelight vigil held on Ugadi day set the tone to up the ante seeking justice for the child. A day earlier, United Muslim Organisation Dakshina Kannada had held a massive protest rally in front of the deputy commissioner’s office seeking justice for the child and her family. The candlelight march that started in front of the police commissioner’s office ended near the the DC’s office.

 The organizers laid down certain ground rules for the candlelight march. No political or religious organizations were allowed to carry their banners, shawls or caps which represent their organization or party; no slogans were raised during the march.

 Notwithstanding the holiday weekend, people landed up at the march with candles in their hands. Tiny tots with their innocent questioning eyes held placards which carried the rhetoric ’CM Uncle, Are we Safe?’, ’Minister Uncle, Are We Safe?’, and ’Respect My Childhood.’

 Vidya Dinker, coordinator, Citizens Forum for Mangaluru Development, told TOI that the Facebook page was a result of concern shown by a group of youth who felt that justice will not be done for the child. "Their exchange of WhatsApp messages in this regard was the genesis of the page," she said.

 It will be our endeavor to ensure that the survivors of such attacks get the required assistance, including counseling to help them overcome the trauma of these incidents," Vidya said, adding that the page will strive to create greater awareness on the issue with all stakeholders including schools and education department.

 "It will also be an endeavor to ensure that the police understand provisions of POCSO Act better and implement it earnestly," Vidya pointed out.