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HYDERABAD: Police have arrested nine persons for allegedly resorting to religious conversions at their orphanage in Moulali in Telangana district.

The accused have been identified as Mohammed Siddique, M Praveen, Syed Abdullah, Mohammed Shakeel Ahmed, Mohammed Ismail, B Someshwar rao alias Abdullah, M Sagar, Mohammed rabbani and Mohammed Fiazuddin.

According to Malkajgiri ACP G Sundeep, the accused were bringing children from tribal hamlets in Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Suryapet and Warangal districts by convincing their parents that they will provide them with free food and education at their orphanage in Hyderabad.

"After bringing 17 children to Peace Orphan Education Society , instead of providing them regular education, the accused made them study texts of a particular religion. Though in certificates the original names of the students are not changed, the accused informally gave all students different names," the ACP said.

Police booked the accused under IPC sections 153-a, 342, 363, sections 2 and 4 of the JJ Act and the SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. They were remanded in judicial custody. The children have been handed over to child welfare department.

