The couple under the guise of an orphanage and old age home were teaching Christian faith to the kids.

Hyderabad: The Rachakonda police busted a religious conversion racket, targeting minors from tribal communities, and rescued nine kids below 14 years of age. Recently, the Rachakonda police zero-ed in on another racket which was converting kids to Islam. The police had rescued 17 kids and arrested 10 persons.

The police nabbed the organisers of the racket, who under the guise of an orphanage and old age home, were teaching the Christian faith to the kids. The gang had selected the children from backward communities in Suryapet, Mahbubnagar, Warangal, Khammam and Kothagudem districts.

According to sources, the suspects, a couple from Kadapa district in AP, has been touring the city since three years. Three months ago, they moved to Parvathapur under the Medipally police station limits and started a shelter house with the name Nazareth Orphan Children & Home for the Aged.

They started admitting kids below 14 years of age under the guise of providing them education and shelter. Around 16 kids have joined the home.

Based on a tip-off, the Rachakonda police raided the shelter home and found nine kids along with the couple.

The police rescued four boys and five girls and detained the couple. Inquiries revealed that the home was housing 16 kids. All of them were accommodated in a single room, which is a violation of the Juvenile Justice Act.

“The kids were taught Christian prayers and we also found Christian literature in the home,” said an investigation official.