Indian Techie Shot by US Police in California; Family Alleges Racial Harassment, Seeks Probe
Indian Techie Shot by US Police in California; Family Alleges Racial Harassment, Seeks Probe
A 30-year-old Indian software engineer was fatally shot by police in Santa Clara, California, following a violent incident at his home earlier this month. The deceased, Mohammed Nizamuddin, hailed from Mahabubnagar in Telangana and was working at a tech firm in the Bay Area.
According to the Santa Clara Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call on September 3 reporting a stabbing at a residence. When they arrived, they found Nizamuddin allegedly holding a knife and pinning down his injured roommate. Police said the situation led to an “Officer Involved Shooting.”
“SCPD officers arrived, encountered the suspect, and were involved in an Officer Involved Shooting. The suspect was transported to a local hospital where they were later pronounced deceased. The victim was transported to a local hospital and is being treated for their injuries,” the official statement said.
Authorities confirmed that the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office is conducting a joint investigation with the local police, and described it as “an active and open investigation.” They added, “As the investigation progresses, we expect to provide an update tomorrow afternoon.”
However, Nizamuddin’s family disputes the police version. They claim that he was the one who called 911 for help — not the attacker. His relatives say he was a calm, religious individual who had long complained about facing racial discrimination, wage fraud, and workplace harassment.
A LinkedIn post by Nizamuddin has also drawn attention, where he openly described the challenges he was facing in the U.S. tech industry. In the post, he wrote:
“I have been a victim of racial hatred, racial discrimination, racial harassment, torture, wage-fraud, wrongful termination and obstruction of Justice.”
He continued in the same post:
“Enough is enough, white supremacy/racist white American mentality has to end.”
He also made other serious claims, including poisoning of his food, illegal eviction, and constant intimidation by someone he described as a “purported detective.”
The family is demanding a full, independent investigation into the circumstances leading up to his death. They have also reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for assistance in repatriating his body, which is currently being held at a hospital in Santa Clara pending formalities.
Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson for the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), met with Nizamuddin’s father, Mohammed Hasnuddin, and has written to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. In his appeal, Khan urged the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Consulate General in San Francisco to obtain a detailed report and assist with repatriation and legal support for the family.
As of now, there has been no official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the case or the family’s requests.
