Police on Friday arrested six persons and started a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against BJP leaders Jitendra Tiwari and his wife Chaitali Tiwari in connection with the stampede that killed three persons during blanket distribution in Asansol on Wednesday.

The arrested persons are BJP members associated with the blanket distribution that was attended by leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Like the Tiwaris, the six BJP workers also face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

While Jitendra is a former Asansol mayor, Chaitali is a councillor of ward 27. The distribution of free blankets was held in Chaitali’s ward.

The police said the case had been started on the basis of a complaint lodged by Sukhen Bauri, son of Jhali Bauri who died in the stampede, at Asansol North police station.

“My mother was called by the organisers to collect one blanket. She died in the stampede because of the negligence of the organisers. They are responsible for my mother’s untimely death and I want them to be punished,” said Sukhen.

Sukhen lodged the complaint hours after receiving a cheque for Rs 2 lakh as compensation from the state government. The government used the disaster management fund to give Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the victims and Rs 50,000 each to those injured in the tragedy.

“We have started a specific case against the organisers of the event following a complaint from a victim’s son. We have arrested six persons and the investigation is on,” said Sudheer Kumar Neelakantam, the Asansol-Durgapur police commissioner.

The six were produced in a court which remanded them in police custody for eight days. A team headed by deputy commissioner of police (west division) Abhishek Modi was formed to probe into the stampede.

Jitendra said the case was part of a political conspiracy and the police had acted at the behest of the Trinamul Congress.

“The police are conducting a probe to find out who is responsible. How can they start a case before their investigation is over? The police are working according to the directives of Trinamul,” said Jitendra.

Trinamul leader and Asansol mayor Bidhan Upadhyay said the case and the investigation were under the jurisdiction of the police and the administration.”