Bareilly: The Bareilly authorities have identified eight allegedly illegal properties linked to associates of Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan for action, officials said on Tuesday.

Teams from the Bareilly Development Authority (BDA) and district administration carried out a joint drive in Faiq Enclave, Jagatpur, and the old city areas, they said.

The structures are alleged to have been built without approved maps, with some encroaching on government and ceiling land.

Police claimed that Faiq Enclave has emerged as a hideout for criminals over the years.

Earlier, a premise linked to Saddam, brother-in-law of gangster Atiq Ahmad, was sealed here. Now, connections of Tauqeer’s aides Farhat and coloniser Mohammad Arif with similar activities have surfaced, they said.

A BDA official said Arif and his associates had encroached upon government land, roads and ceiling areas. Hotels and lawns linked to Arif -- Skylark, Fahm Lawn and Flora Garden -- were sealed on Sunday for alleged illegal construction.

“Illegal constructions on government and ceiling land will not be spared. Strict action will be taken as per rules,” BDA Vice-Chairman Dr Manikandan A said.

Meanwhile, Bareilly Municipal Corporation marked several shops, including those built atop Pahalwan Sahab Dargah, for demolition over illegal construction.

The administration is now preparing an FIR against Arif for road and land encroachment, he said.