A group of villagers have got into trouble with the law after they tortured a baby crocodile and posed for selfies with it.

They spotted a crocodile, which had fallen into a nearly dry well, on the outskirts of Shivpuri in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on October 21.

They pulled it out after snaring it with a rope. What followed was an horrific act that shocked many in the neighbourhood.

They paraded the hapless animal in the village dangling it at the end of a stick singing and cracking jokes. They then took turns in posing for selfies holding the animal in the air.

A local resident, who did not want to be identified, said, “The ‘fun’ lasted for hours till someone informed the forest department.”

The forest officials came and took the away the animal cautioning the men. They are reportedly planning further legal action against them.

Chief Conservator of Forests of Shivpuri H S Mohant told reporters: “People should not approach crocodiles when they spot them. Instead they should call forest officials to tackle the situation.”