The Financial Intelligence Unit is investigating high-value transfers and transactions exceeding Rs 20 lakh in Manipur to determine if the violence in the state is “financially sponsored or supported” by vested groups, The Economic Times reported on Tuesday.

“All high-value transactions in the last six months including foreign remittances, high-value donations to charitable institutions are under the scanner,” an unnamed official told ET, confirming that the probe has already begun.

Around 150 “suspicious” accounts of people, including local leaders and charitable institutions, showing an unusual pattern of money transactions have been identified, the official said, adding that they were not restricted to Manipur, but were spread across neighbouring Mizoram and Nagaland as well.

The FIU, which falls under the Department of Revenue, is also looking into two Manipur-based companies with prior records of money laundering and five online betting and gambling companies, two of which were blocked by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in February, the ET report added.

Internet shutdown extended: Authorities on Tuesday extended Manipur’s internet blackout by another five days, a month and a half after it was imposed in response to the outbreak of violent ethnic clashes. The government order came even as the Manipur High Court directed the authorities to provide internet access to the public in a few designated places that fall under state government control.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court refused to grant an urgent hearing to a plea filed by the Manipur Tribal Forum seeking army protection for Manipur’s minority Kuki tribals, at least 70 of whom have been killed in the ongoing violence.

The clashes had broken out in Manipur on 3 May, the day that thousands of students, mostly from the Kuki tribe, held protests against a Manipur High Court order urging the state government to expeditiously consider the Meitei community’s plea seeking inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

The Meiteis, who account for 60% of Manipur’s population, have been seeking ST status for close to a decade now, arguing that they need legal protection against outsiders and “infiltration.” Their demand has been opposed by Manipur’s predominantly Christian hill tribes, which form 40% of the state’s population and have long claimed administrative neglect.

On Monday, the Manipur HC admitted a review petition to modify its order and issued notices to the central and state governments on the matter, seeking their response.