Man murdered in Salem over watermelon skin

A 37-year-old man was allegedly murdered over a quarrel at Kasarakaranoor area in the district, police said.

The mother of the deceased, identified as Murugan, 37, used to collect waste watermelon skin from Ayyappan, a watermelon merchant, police said.

When Murugan, who Ayyappan had never met, went to the shop yesterday to collect the waste watermelon skin in place of his mother, a quarrel ensued between the two men which resulted in Murugan's death, police said.

Iyappan has been admitted to hospital with serious injuries, they said.