Thiruvananthapuram: The police probe into the murder of a senior citizen at Nettayakonam in Kazhakoottam on Sunday by a scrap collector revealed it was a spat over spitting that led to an ugly spat between them.

K Bhuvananchandran was killed as the scrap collector kicked on his abdomen amidst a verbal duel between the two.

On Sunday morning, Bhuvanachandran was standing on the side of the National Highway and speaking to a tender coconut vendor. A scrap collector, a passer-by, spat on the road. Bhuvanachandran objected to this, resulting in a verbal duel between the two. In the melee, the scrap collector kicked him on his abdomen. Though he was rushed to a private hospital first and later to the medical college hospital, his life could not be saved.

According to the doctors, the internal bleeding was the reason for his death. Bhuvanachandran had earlier undergone operations for liver ailment.

The scrap collector, belonging to Kollam, is one-handed. After the incident, he had food from a nearby hotel and later left for Kollam in a bus.

His name and details are unknown. The Kazhakkoottam police have registered a case and begun investigation. A manhunt is also on.