Acting tough against those flouting the ban imposed on taking bath in the Cauvery river in view of the heavy flow, the City Police arrested eight persons on the charge of defying the ban.
The eight persons were picked up at three spots - Thillainayagam bathing ghat, Odathurai and Karumaadhi bathing ghat - after they were found taking bath in the river on Sunday.
A case was booked against each of the eight persons under IPC section 290 (committing public nuisance) and under section 71 XVIII of the TNCP Act, a police press release said.
Ever since the flow in the Cauvery has risen sharply, caution boards were installed by the district administration, City Corporation and the Tiruchi City Police cautioning public not to venture into the water to take bath or indulge in fishing or taking selfie. The Corporation also put up metal enclosures at bathing ghats to prevent the public from going beyond the danger zone.
Besides these, information was also conveyed to the public in Srirangam and Fort Police station limits through beating of drums ('Thandora'). Despite these precautionary measures being put in place, many continue to ignore them.
The law enforcers have appealed to the public to ask their wards not to take bath in the river. A few days ago, bodies of five persons who drowned in the Cauvery river were retrieved.
In the latest instance, an engineering student from the National Institute of Technlogy, Tiruchi drowned while taking bath at Geethapuram area in Srirangam on Saturday. Fire fighters were yet to trace the body.