The Election Commission (EC) has asked district authorities to execute nearly 50,000 pending non-bailable warrants (NBW) at the earliest, the move considered unusual as the poll panel usually lays stress on such a measure after the model code of conduct comes into effect.

The deputy election commissioner, Sudip Jain, had visited Bengal recently to observe the poll preparedness. During his five-day visit, Jain held several meetings with government officials. He also visited some districts to assess the ground situation.

“During the meetings with district and state government officials, Jain came to know that nearly 50,000 NBWs were pending. He said the figure was very high and the authorities should lay stress on executing those at the earliest,” said a senior official.

According to sources, the deputy election commissioner has made it clear the EC would keep a tab on the execution of the NBWs from now on.

“We have been asked to send reports on execution of the NBWs on a regular basis. We will have to mention how many pending NBWs were executed in every 14 days,” said a district magistrate.

The EC had earlier asked the district officials to file daily reports on law and order across the state. This was unusual, too, as the poll panel usually keeps a tab on law and order once the model code of conduct is put in place.

“It is clear the poll panel is attaching special importance to Bengal. This is apparently because of the state’s history of poll-related violence,” said a source.

Sources in the state administration said the district authorities had swung into action after the EC had given the directive.

Police superintendents have asked police stations under their respective jurisdiction to prepare lists of pending NBWs.

“The police stations have been asked to get into the act to execute all the pending NBWs once the list is prepared. Primarily, a target has been set to execute the pending NBWs by February next year,” said an official.

It was found in the past that people who were involved in poll-related violence had NBWs pending against them. The NBWs are executed ahead of the polls to ensure the elections are conducted peacefully by putting all trouble-mongers behind the bars.

As the EC has decided to exercise the initiative even before the model code of conduct comes into effect, it is clear the poll panel is trying to make campaigning by political parties in the run-up to polls incident-free, said sources.

“The political atmosphere in the state has already heated up. The attack on BJP nation national president, J. P. Nadda and some other violent incidents in districts like East Midnapore clearly indicate the situation is very charged. The EC is perhaps trying to initiate some precautionary measures,” said a bureaucrat.