A young man from Telangana, India, Mohammed Nizamuddin, has died in California after being shot by police. The incident occurred this month, reportedly following a confrontation with his roommate.
Nizamuddin, 29, originally from Mahabubnagar district, moved to the US in 2016 for higher education. He earned an MS from Florida College and worked as a software professional. He was later promoted, which led to his relocation to California.
His father, Mohammed Hasanuddin, has reached out to the Indian government for help in bringing his son’s body back to India. Hasanuddin learned of his son’s death from a friend. He is seeking clarity on the events of September 3rd and the circumstances surrounding Nizamuddin’s death. He wrote to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, asking for assistance. In his letter, Hasanuddin mentioned that he was informed that Nizamuddin had been shot by the Santa Clara police and that his body was at a hospital in California. He does not know why the police shot his son.
Preliminary reports suggest that a disagreement between Nizamuddin and his roommate preceded the incident.
Hasanuddin is requesting Jaishankar to liaise with the Indian embassy in Washington D.C. and the Indian consulate in San Francisco to facilitate the return of his son’s remains to Mahabubnagar.
A relative of the deceased explained that the conflict with the roommate, which centered on the use of air conditioning, escalated to a physical fight involving knives. This prompted a neighbor to call the police.
The relative stated that upon arrival, the police ordered both men to put their hands up. One obeyed, while the other did not. The police subsequently fired four shots, resulting in Nizamuddin’s death. The relative voiced concerns about the speed at which the shooting occurred without what appeared to be a thorough investigation.
The family is also seeking support from the Telangana government to help bring the body back to Mahabubnagar. They have not yet received comprehensive details about the event.
Amjadullah Khan, the spokesperson for the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), shared Hasanuddin’s letter to Jaishankar on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and called for assistance for the family.