Two young couples were allegedly beaten up by a group of villagers during their visit to Haji Malang shrine, where authorities have banned entry of tourists, here in Thane district of Maharashtra, police said on Wednesday.

While the victims claimed they were attacked by villagers because they were wearing shorts and undertaking the trip to the hill top shrine despite a ban, the police said they were looking into their complaint. A manhunt has been launched for the villagers who beat up the couples who had gone to Haji Malang near Kalyan on Sunday evening, the police said.