700 child marriages in Karnataka during 2024-25: CM Siddaramaiah slams officials over lapses
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strongly criticised senior district officials after the state reported a shocking 700 child marriages during the 2024–25 period, with five districts alone accounting for over 50% of these cases. The Chief Minister’s remarks came during a recent two-day review meeting with Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Superintendents of Police (SPs), and other senior administrators.
He mentioned that a total of 3,049 child marriages were attempted during the year 2024–25. While 2,349 were successfully prevented, 700 were solemnised, leading in some instances to teenage pregnancies and motherhood, as reported by Deccan Herald on Saturday.
"Even after decades of Independence, 700 child marriages in a year is a shocking statistic,” Siddaramaiah said, stressing that poor implementation of existing laws in certain regions is unacceptable.
The Chief Minister expressed disappointment at the apparent administrative lapses, questioning the vigilance of district officials. “If you do not know what is happening in your districts, it raises questions about your efficiency. Are your subordinates afraid to report such cases, or do they simply not care,” DH quoted Siddaramaiah as saying.
The situation is compounded by a surge in teenage pregnancies linked to cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. According to the data presented by the Women and Child Development Department, out of 3,489 Pocso cases reported in 2024-25, 685 involved pregnancies among minor girls.
The districts of Shivamogga (79 cases), Belagavi (78), Chitradurga (74), Bagalkote (63), and Mysuru (60) emerged as the worst-affected, together contributing to more than half of the total child marriages reported across the state.
Siddaramaiah asserted that the continued prevalence of child marriages and teenage pregnancies in Karnataka is deeply concerning and demanded stringent legal actions to ensure that offenders are held accountable.
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UP woman found hanging at in-laws' home; family alleges dowry murder
Maharajganj (UP) (PTI): A 29-year-old married woman was found hanging at her in-laws' home here, with her in-laws claiming it was suicide while her mother alleging murder over dowry, police said on Sunday.
According to police, Anukriti (29) had married Manoj Gond six years ago and lived with her in-laws in Mahadeva village.
Her in-laws claimed that she died by suicide after allegedly hanging herself inside a room of the house on Saturday evening, police said.
After receiving information about the incident, a police team reached the spot and sent the body for a post-mortem.
Paniyara police station in-charge Sanjay Kumar Singh said that based on a complaint filed by the woman’s mother, a case was registered on Sunday against her husband Manoj Gond, mother-in-law Punam, father-in-law Sumer Gond, and brother-in-law Munna Gond.
The complainant alleged that Anukriti was being harassed for dowry by in-laws and was murdered over dowry-related demands, Singh said.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
