PUNE: After vandalising several educational institutions for taking in students from outside Maharashtra, activists of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on Friday attacked the Mercedes Benz International School at Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park at Hinjewadi in Pune after a dispute over not hoisting the national flag on Independence Day.

Six people were arrested and charged with rioting. Leading a mob, Pradeep Dnyaonoba Sakare, the MNS president of Mulshi taluka, barged into the school around 9 am and sought an explanation from the security staff why students and staff members hadn't hoisted the tricolour. An argument started and the MNS activists began pelting stones at the building, smashing window panes.

Inspector Bajirao Mohite (crime) of the Hinjewadi police station said Sakare had visited the school two days ago and asked them to celebrate I-Day.

The school authorities apparently told him that the occasion was celebrated only by the staff and not students because most of them came from abroad. The school authorities couldn't be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Suhas Kadloskar, head of corporate communications of Mercedez Benz International, too, wasn't available for comments. The state government has made it mandatory for all schools to celebrate I-Day by hoisting the flag