A quarrel with a roommate allegedly spiralled into violence and ended in tragedy for a 30-year-old software professional from Telangana’s Mahabubnagar, who was shot dead by police in the United States earlier this month.
What do we know about the incident in Santa Clara?
Mohammed Nizamuddin, who had been working in Santa Clara, California, was killed on 3 September after police opened fire during an altercation inside his residence.
According to the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD), officers were responding to a 911 call about a stabbing. When they arrived, they reportedly found Nizamuddin armed with a knife and pinning down his injured roommate. Police said he ignored repeated instructions to drop the weapon, prompting an officer-involved shooting. He was rushed to a hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
His roommate survived and is receiving treatment for stab wounds, police confirmed. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office is jointly investigating the case with SCPD.
Family learns weeks later
Back in India, Nizamuddin’s family said they only received the news two weeks later. His father, Mohammed Hasnuddin, told PTI, “We got the information only this (Thursday) morning.” In a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, he added, “I do not know the actual reasons why the police shot him dead.”
According to relatives, the argument began over a petty issue. One family member told ANI that the fight was “over an AC” and escalated into violence. “When the police entered the room, they asked the occupants to show their hands. One boy complied; the other did not. The police then fired four rounds. It is extremely regrettable that, according to reports, no proper inquiry took place and the shooting happened so quickly,” the relative said.
Hasnuddin has appealed to the government to intervene in bringing back his son’s mortal remains. “I request you to direct the Embassy of India in Washington, DC, and the Consulate General in San Francisco to help us,” he wrote in his letter.
Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson for Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), who has been assisting the family, also urged the minister to expedite consular assistance.
Family questions US police action
While police maintain the shooting was in response to an immediate threat, Nizamuddin’s family allege the incident was mishandled and have demanded a thorough probe. His case has sparked concerns over the treatment of foreign nationals by US law enforcement, with community leaders highlighting the need for transparency in such investigations.
For the family in Mahabubnagar, the priority now is to repatriate their son’s body.