Indian Techie From Telangana Shot Dead By US Police; Family Seeks Answers
A 30-year-old techie from Mahbubnagar, Telangana, named Mohammed Nizamuddin, was shot dead by police in Santa Clara, California, following an incident involving his roommate. Authorities and his family present differing accounts of the events.
The Santa Clara Police Department says it received a 911 call on September 3 about a stabbing inside Nizamuddin’s residence. Responding officers found Nizamuddin allegedly armed with a knife and reportedly pinning his roommate, who had sustained injuries. Officers say they fired upon him, after which he was taken to hospital and pronounced dead. The roommate, also hospitalised, is said to be recovering.
Nizamuddin had moved to the US in 2016 for higher studies, earning a master’s degree in computer science before working for a tech firm. His family asserts that he was previously terminated from his job around six months ago, and that he had alleged racial harassment and discrimination at work. In his LinkedIn posts, he claimed to have been a victim of wage fraud, wrongful termination, and obstruction of justice.
The family disputes the police narrative in several respects. They allege that Nizamuddin had called the police himself for help during a quarrel with his roommate — what they describe as a “minor matter” that escalated unexpectedly. The killing has raised questions about whether excessive force was used, and whether alternate de-escalation methods could have been employed.
According to those close to him, Nizamuddin was quiet, religious, and had lived in a shared apartment. His father says he was informed of his son’s death only two weeks later, when friends in Santa Clara reached out. The father is now appealing to India’s External Affairs Ministry to assist in repatriating Nizamuddin’s remains.
Local civil society and community groups have also called for a full investigation. They want the underlying workplace harassment claims examined, and demand transparency in the law enforcement procedure. They seek access to evidence like body-cam footage, details of use of force, and exact sequence of actions taken by the police.
The incident has sparked outrage and concern, both in India and among Indian expatriate communities, about treatment of international students, and use of force in policing. The authorities in California, including the Santa Clara Police Department and District Attorney’s office, have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing.
As investigations proceed, Nizamuddin’s family and supporters are seeking not just legal answers, but also clarity on whether systemic issues like racial bias played a role in his death.
