May 15 (IANS): Tension prevailed on Sunday in Kanchanpur in northern Tripura as angry tribal refugees, originally hailing from Mizoram, burnt around 10 houses of locals, police here said.

The arson followed suicide by a tribal man living in a refugee camp at Kanchanpur, 175 km north from Agartala, after he was allegedly beaten up by locals.

A police official said deceased Bhriguram Reang, 36, allegedly committed suicide on Sunday after he was beaten up by local people who accused him of catching fish from a pond without seeking permission from the owner.

Senior police officials, along with a huge contingent of Tripura State Rifles, rushed to the area to control the situation.

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Anurag was supervising the situation.

Around 31,000 Reang tribals or 'Bru' are living in seven makeshift camps in northern Tripura for the past 19 years after they fled Mizoram following ethnic trouble after a Mizo forest officer was killed.