Santa Clara/Hyderabad: An Indian techie was shot dead by US police in Santa Clara, California, triggering outrage and calls for a thorough probe into alleged racial harassment. The deceased, Mohammed Nizamuddin, hailed from Mahabubnagar in Telangana and had been working at a tech firm in California after completing his Masters in Computer Science from a Florida college.
According to a statement by the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD), officers responded to a 911 call about a stabbing incident inside a residence. Police claimed that upon arrival they encountered Nizamuddin armed with a knife. An officer involved shooting followed, after which Nizamuddin was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to injuries. His roommate, who was reportedly attacked, is under medical treatment.
The SCPD added that the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and the Police Department have launched a joint investigation, with further updates expected.
However, Nizamuddin’s family in Telangana has strongly contested the police version. They alleged that it was Nizamuddin himself who dialed 911 seeking help before being shot dead. His relatives stressed that he was a quiet, religious person who had publicly spoken about facing racial harassment, wage fraud, wrongful termination, and surveillance in the US.
In a LinkedIn post, Mohammed Nizamuddin 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.”
The family is demanding a transparent investigation into the shooting and the circumstances that led to the tragedy. They have also sought assistance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to repatriate his mortal remains to India. His body is currently kept at a Santa Clara hospital for legal formalities.
Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan, who met Nizamuddin’s father Mohammed Hasnuddin, confirmed that he has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. He urged the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Consulate General in San Francisco to intervene, provide clarity, and extend support to the grieving family.
The shocking death of the Indian techie has raised concerns over the safety of Indian professionals in the United States, with many calling for accountability and justice.
In a separate tragic incident 4-5 day’s back, another Indian was killed in the US. Chandra Nagamallaiah, an Indian-origin man, was brutally beheaded with a machete in front of his wife and son inside a Dallas motel by Yordanis Cobos Martinez.
