MNS attacks Airtel, Aircel for no Marathi in recorded responses

On Tuesday afternoon, five people hurled stones wrapped in Maharashtra Navnirman Sena flags at an Airtel outlet in Bandra and shattered its glass entrance. Two weeks ago, the Airtel franchise had got a threat letter from MNS. HT reports.

On Tuesday afternoon, five people hurled stones wrapped in Maharashtra Navnirman Sena flags at an Airtel outlet in Bandra and shattered its glass entrance.

Two weeks ago, the Airtel franchise had got a letter from MNS, threatening it for not including Marathi in its interactive voice response (IVR) system. IVR is an automatic system that responds to customer calls. “We forwarded the letter to our head office,” a store employee said.

“Some people threw three stones wrapped with MNS flags at the glass door. By the time we went out, only media persons and other people were standing there,” said an employee who identified herself as Sabina. “They said the culprits had come on motorbikes and had fled after pelting stones.”

The Bandra police have registered a case. Senior Inspector Prakash George said the incident took place around 2.30 pm near Mohammed Rafi Chowk, Bandra (West). “We will take the media’s help to get video footage of the attackers,” he said. No arrests have been made.

A similar attack was reported from a Khar Aircel gallery. Later in the day, Airtel and Aircel wrote to MNS saying that they had included Marathi in their IVR.

HT Image