Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Sep 19: A 30-year-old techie from Telangana was shot dead by police in California after he allegedly attacked his roommate earlier this month. While US authorities termed it an "officer-involved shooting," his family has alleged racial harassment and demanded a thorough probe into the circumstances leading to his death.
The deceased has been identified as Mohammed Nizamuddin, a native of Mahabubnagar district. According to Santa Clara Police, officers rushed to a residence on September 3 following a 911 call about a stabbing. On arrival, they reportedly found Nizamuddin holding a knife and pinning down his injured roommate.
“SCPD officers encountered the suspect and were involved in an officer-involved shooting. The suspect was rushed to hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The victim is undergoing treatment,” a statement by the police said, adding that the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has initiated a joint investigation.
However, Nizamuddin’s family has contested the version, claiming that it was he who had dialled the emergency number seeking help. They said he had repeatedly complained of racial discrimination, harassment, wage fraud, and wrongful termination during his stint at a tech firm in Santa Clara.
The family also referred to his recent LinkedIn post in which he alleged being a victim of racial hatred, harassment, poisoning of food, eviction, and intimidation. In the post, he wrote: “Enough is enough. White supremacy/racist white American mentality has to end.”
Nizamuddin, who had completed his Master’s in Computer Science from a Florida college, was described by his family as a quiet and religious person. They have now sought the intervention of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to facilitate the repatriation of his mortal remains, currently kept at a hospital in Santa Clara.
Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan, after meeting Nizamuddin’s father Mohammed Hasnuddin, confirmed that he has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, requesting the Embassy of India in Washington D.C. and the Consulate General in San Francisco to provide a detailed report on the incident and extend all possible assistance.
The family has appealed for a transparent probe into the case, while the US police investigation remains underway.