 "Nizamuddin was a 30-year-old tech professional from Mahabubnagar, Telangana. X/@amjedmbt")
A 30-year-old Indian techie from Telangana’s Mahabubnagar was shot dead by police in California.
Mohammed Nizamuddin was killed following a fight with his roommate on September 3.
His father, Mohammed Hasnuddin, said he first heard about his son’s death from one of Nizamuddin’s friends, though the full details of the incident are still unclear.
In the weeks leading up to his death, Nizamuddin had spoken out about facing severe harassment and racial discrimination both at work and at home. He had also claimed that someone had poisoned his food.
So, what exactly happened? Who was Mohammed Nizamuddin? And what were the allegations of racial discrimination he had raised before his death?
Let’s take a look:
Who was Mohammed Nizamuddin?
Nizamuddin was a 30-year-old tech professional from Mahabubnagar, Telangana.
His family said he moved to the US in 2016 to pursue a Master’s degree in Computer Science at a college in Florida.
After completing his degree, he joined a software company and later moved to Santa Clara, California, following a promotion.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Nizamuddin was working for Google through the IT consulting firm EPAM Systems. He later admitted that he had been terminated from his job.
His family described him as a quiet and religious individual who had publicly raised concerns about racial harassment, wage fraud, and wrongful termination, NDTV reported.
The police said Nizamuddin was shot after they found him with a knife at his residence while responding to a 911 call. A dispute between him and his roommate had reportedly occurred on the day of the incident.
When Nizamuddin called himself a ‘victim of racial hatred’
A LinkedIn post by Nizamuddin revealed that he considered himself a “victim of racial hatred, racial discrimination, racial harassment, torture, wage fraud, wrongful termination and obstruction of justice.”
“Today I decided to raise my voice against all odds. Enough is enough white supremacy / racist white American mentality has to end. Oppression of corporate tyrants must end and everyone involved in it must be punished severely," he wrote.
He said he had worked at Google through EPAM Systems and accused both the company and his colleagues of hostility and underpayment.
“In addition to that the company committed a salary fraud… They altogether wrongfully terminated my employment,” he alleged. He added that after losing his job, the intimidation continued through a “racist detective and team” and escalated until he was evicted.
In the post, Nizamuddin named his “colleagues, employer, client, detective and their community” as the main aggressors.
“It is happening with me today, and it can happen with anyone tomorrow,” he warned, urging people to seek justice.
What did the police say?
The Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD) said officers responded to the incident around 6:18 am on September 3 and found the suspect armed with a knife. He was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead. The victim was also hospitalised and is receiving treatment for injuries.
“The caller stated the suspect had stabbed one victim in the residence. 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 later pronounced dead. The victim was transported to a local hospital and is being treated for injuries. The officer was not injured,” the SCPD said in a statement on their website.
Police Chief Cory Morgan added that the altercation between the two roommates had become violent before officers arrived. When they reached the scene, they found the victim holding down his roommate, who had several injuries.
“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 dead. The victim was transported to a local hospital and is being treated for their injuries,” Morgan said.
He added that initial investigations suggested the “officer’s action stopped further harm and likely saved at least one life.” Two knives were recovered from the scene.
What is Nizamuddin’s family saying?
Nizamuddin’s family said he had quit his job after complaining about racial discrimination and harassment, The Indian Express reported.
They have requested the help of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to bring their son’s body back to India.
“I was informed today that my son was shot dead in California, America. My son went to study in America in 2016 at Florida College…He moved to California on a promotion, where he was shot dead. I appeal to the MEA Dr S Jaishankar, to bring my son’s body back to India as soon as possible," his father told ANI.