India probes charity and education fronts used for terror financing

Indian security and investigative agencies have warned that a growing number of organisations operating under the guise of charity, education, religion and healthcare are being used as front entities to collect and transfer illicit money intended to fund terror activities and create unrest in the country. Officials say these groups maintain a low profile, avoid overtly suspicious activities and often receive funds through legitimate banking channels in small, hard‑to‑detect transactions, as well as through informal hawala networks.

The agencies highlighted the role of overseas Indian workers, particularly in the Gulf, whose remittances are exploited by intermediaries to funnel money into India, with Kerala identified as a hotspot due to its large expatriate population. Authorities such as the National Investigation Agency, Enforcement Directorate and the Intelligence Bureau have taken action against several suspected organisations, but new fronts continue to emerge, sometimes appearing only during natural disasters or communal disturbances. The reports also allege that elements based in Pakistan are coordinating these operations to “bleed India by a thousand cuts.”