Twenty-four children were rescued from entering into wedlock at the mass marriage, which was organised by an MLA’s supporters and later attended by Sadananda Gowda at Chincholi.

Tipped off, members of an NGO and officials of the Women and Child Welfare Department raided the venue where the mass marriage was organised on the occasion of legislator Sunil Valyapur’s 46th birthday celebrations.

They identified 12 pairs of minors and allowed marriage of two pairs after receiving their age certificates. Deputy Director Ratna Kalamdani, Child Development Officer Mohammed Rafi Shakale, staff of Margadarshi helpline and members of the Don Bosco Childline identified nine out of 116 couples, who were aged below 18.

Before the arrival of the chief minister, the team took seven girls and two boys to a separate room, while five other boys escaped. The officials let the children only after receiving an undertaking from their parents that they would not get their children married illegally.