Mangaluru: Thousands of protestors held a candlelight meet in Mangaluru on Saturday as part of ‘Baby Nirbhaya’ campaign to protest against the rape of an LKG student in Thokkottu last week.

People from all sections of society gathered near the Deputy Commissioner’s office and staged a demonstration with placards for more than an hour.

Speaking on the occasion, Nandagopal of Centre for Integrated Learning said, we have to build an educated society should not support perverted minds. This candlelight march is to explain to people against such atrocities and demand justice for the child.”

Former mayor K Ashraf told the demonstrators that the culprit deserves stern punishment.

Social activist Vidya Dinakar said the administration should take stern action against those who violate safety norms, especially schools that do not have control over their employees.

Renny D’Souza, state convener of CLC Karnataka, Sachita Nandagopal, Umar U H, and others were present.