Bangalore Feb 15: Eight children got married in Karnataka in the presence of three Ministers and senior government officials.

The illegal weddings took place in Devdurga in the northern district of Raichur. Those who got married include children aged 4 to 14. They were among the 501 couples who got married in a special ceremony at the Shiva temple at Devdurga Mundargi. The event was organized by Shivanna Gauda Naik, an MLA and minister in Karnataka.

The other ministers in attendance were B. Shriramkumar and G. Janardana Reddy. Manohar Maski (BJP member of the Law Council), the executive officer of the Raichur district panchayat, the Tehsildar of Devdurga and senior police officials too were present.

A government commission has named Devdurga as the least developed Taluk (sub-district) of the state of Karnataka.

This page is updated on February 21, 2009