Agartala, Nov 21:  One youth was killed and 23 others including security personnel injured as  police had to fire on an agitating mob which went berserk while observing a shutdown  today during a protest that had been on for the past six days in northern Tripura to oppose the government's decision to rehabilitate thousands of Bru (Reang) tribal refugees.

These tribal refugees had fled to adjoining Mizoram 23 years ago following ethnic strife in the state.

Police said that 45-years-old Srikanta Das was shot dead and 23 others including security and fire service personnel seriously injured when police had to open fire on the agitating mob that also attacked the security forces at Panisagar in North Tripura district.

"The agitated mob damaged three government and police vehicles and a motorbike. Government would give Rs 5 lakh relief to the family of Srikanta Das," North Tripura district Magistrate and Collector Nagesh Kumar told the media.

The injured were admitted to various government hospitals.

A tweet of Tripura police said: "Even after facing brutal attack, police personnel showed utmost restraint and sensitivity in maintaining law & order and proportionate force was used in self defence in Panisagar incident today (Saturday)."

The situation remained explosive as the Joint Movement Committee (JMC) called shutdown for an indefinite period since Monday in Kanchanpur sub-division to protest the Tripura and Central governments' decision to rehabilitate around 35,000 Reang tribal refugees, who had fled to adjoining Mizoram in October 1997 following the ethnic conflict.