A 30-year-old Indian techie from Telangana was shot dead by police in California after allegedly stabbing his roommate earlier this month.
While officials described it as an officer-involved shooting during a violent altercation, his family has alleged racial discrimination and demanded a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding his death.
According to the Santa Clara Police Department, Mohammed Nizamuddin, a native of Mahabubnagar, was shot on September 3 after officers found him inside his residence with a knife, allegedly pinning down his injured roommate. Police said they had responded to a 911 call about a stabbing incident.
“SCPD officers arrived, encountered the suspect, and were involved in an Officer Involved Shooting. The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The victim was hospitalized with injuries,” the statement read.
Authorities said the case is under joint investigation by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and the Santa Clara Police Department.
However, Nizamuddin’s family claims he was the one who had initially called police for help. They also allege he had been facing systemic racial harassment.
A postgraduate in Computer Science from a Florida college, Nizamuddin was working at a tech company in Santa Clara. His relatives described him as quiet and religious, but also someone who had openly spoken out against discrimination.
On LinkedIn, he had written: “I have been a victim of racial hatred, racial discrimination, racial harassment, torture, wage fraud, wrongful termination and obstruction of justice. Enough is enough. White supremacy/racist white American mentality has to end.”
He had also alleged food poisoning, forced eviction, and surveillance by a detective. His family insists these issues should be part of the investigation into his death.
Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan, who met Nizamuddin’s father, said he had written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar seeking the intervention of the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Consulate in San Francisco. The family is also seeking assistance to bring his mortal remains back to India.
At the time of filing this report, the Ministry of External Affairs had not issued an official response.