PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 17 -- The Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) is preparing to act against a plot of around one acre near Airavat Crossing, reportedly owned by absconding Shaista Parveen, wife of slain gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed, officials said on Saturday.

The proposed action follows chief minister Yogi Adityanath performing the bhoomi pujan for a housing project on land freed from Atiq's alleged encroachment in Kasari-Masari on Thursday. Earlier, a housing project for economically weaker sections was developed on land freed in Lukerganj, where flats were allotted to poor families.

Officials said the two projects were part of a wider exercise to identify properties allegedly linked to Atiq, his brother Ashraf and Shaista. The PDA ...