Queens subway rider punched and head-butted for complaining stranger was spitting seed shells

A Queens subway rider was beaten up after she complained a stranger was spitting seed shells onto the floor of the train, police said Wednesday.

The bizarre clash sparked off aboard a Manhattan-bound R train about 1:20 p.m. Jan. 15, cops said.

“What are you doing?” the 34-year-old victim asked the woman spitting out seed shells.

The spitter was offended and head-butted the victim, prompting the victim to pull out her cellphone to record the assailant, police said. A man with the spitter grabbed the victim’s cellphone, shoved it in his pocket and punched the victim in the face multiple times.

The stunned victim managed to grab her phone back and got off the train at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave. station. She was treated at the scene for bruises to her head.

The couple got off the train three stops later at the Woodhaven Blvd. station and were last seen entering the Queens Center Mall, cops said.

Cops released surveillance images of the suspects Wednesday and asked the public’s help identifying them and tracking them down.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.