A 30-year-old Indian software professional from Telangana was shot dead by police in Santa Clara, California, earlier this month after an altercation with his roommate. The incident has sparked outrage, with his family alleging racial discrimination and demanding an impartial investigation.
According to officials, the victim, Mohammed Nizamuddin, a native of Mahabubnagar district, was found inside his apartment on September 3, allegedly holding a knife and restraining his injured roommate when officers arrived following a 911 emergency call. Police said the situation escalated into an “officer-involved shooting.” Nizamuddin was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead. His roommate is recovering from multiple stab wounds.
The Santa Clara Police Department and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office have launched a joint probe into the case, describing it as an active and ongoing investigation.
Nizamuddin’s family, however, disputed the police version. They claimed that he himself had dialed 911 seeking help before being fatally shot. They also pointed to his past complaints of workplace harassment and racial discrimination in the United States.
A computer science postgraduate from Florida, Nizamuddin was employed at a tech firm in Santa Clara. Family members said he was soft-spoken, religious, and had repeatedly raised concerns about harassment and wage fraud at work. In a LinkedIn post before his death, he alleged:
“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 also claimed to have faced intimidation, surveillance, food poisoning, and eviction attempts in the US.
Seeking justice, his family has urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to push for a transparent probe and to facilitate the repatriation of his mortal remains, currently kept at a hospital in Santa Clara for official procedures.
Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan, who met Nizamuddin’s father, confirmed that he has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, requesting the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Consulate in San Francisco to intervene.
The MEA has not yet issued an official response regarding the family’s appeal.
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