Kolkata, Jul 11 (IANS): Terming communal clashes as deplorable, Noble laureate Amartya Sen says there was provocation behind the intensified communal tension in West Bengal's Basirhat sub-division.

"I feel there was probably a certain amount of provocation behind these communal clashes in the region and whichever community indulged in such provocation is equally condemnable" Sen said on Monday here at the screening of a documentary named "The Argumentative Indian", based on his life.

"I am not entirely sure what exactly happened there as I was not in the country and could not read a whole lot about it but I personally think that communal tension cannot intensify without provocation," the economist noted.

Sen also claimed that any person or party that tries to intensify such clashes were even more criminal than the rioters themselves.

"Any communal clashes are deplorable. But if anyone tries to add fuel to those clashes in order to gain political benefit, that is even more criminal," he claimed.

Communal clashes broke out in pockets of Basirhat in North 24 Parganas district last week after a communally provocative social media post went viral.

Although the youth involved with the social post was arrested and the post deleted, trouble broke out and spread to several areas.

A number of police personnel were injured in the clashes and the central government rushed 400 paramilitary personnel to control the situation.