Who Was Mohammed Nizamuddin, Telangana Techie Shot Dead By US Cops

Nizamuddin had relocated to the United States in 2016 to obtain a Master's degree in Computer Science

Washington:

Mohammed Nizamuddin, a 30-year-old resident from Telangana's Mahabubnagar district, was reportedly fatally shot by police in California, United States, in early September. According to Mohammed Hasnuddin, Nizamuddin's father, the incident occurred on September 3 following a dispute with his roommate.

The distraught father mentioned that he discovered his son's death through one of Nizamuddin's friends, though the precise details surrounding the incident remain unclear.

Who Was Mohammed Nizamuddin

Based on information provided by his family, Nizamuddin emigrated to the United States in 2016 to pursue his Master's degree in Computer Science at a college in Florida. Upon completing his graduate studies, he secured employment with a software company. After receiving a promotion at his tech firm, he relocated to Santa Clara, California.

His LinkedIn profile indicated that Nizamuddin was working for Google through the IT consulting firm EPAM Systems. However, he later acknowledged that he had been terminated from his position.

Family members described him as a quiet, religious individual who had publicly voiced complaints about racial harassment, wage fraud, and wrongful termination from his employment.

LinkedIn Post In Focus

Prior to his death, Nizamuddin had posted on LinkedIn claiming he was "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 stated.

He alleged experiencing significant hostility, racial discrimination, and harassment in his workplace. Additionally, he claimed his company committed salary fraud by not paying him fairly, "not in accordance with DOL (Department of Labour) wage levels."

"They altogether wrongfully terminated my employment. It did not end there. They continued their harassment, discrimination and intimidating behavior by the help of a racist detective and team," he asserted.

What The US Police Said

In an official statement, the Santa Clara police department (SCPD) reported receiving a 911 call at approximately 6:08 am local time on September 3 regarding a stabbing incident inside a residence.

"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," stated the report published on the police department's website.

According to Police Chief Cory Morgan, the altercation between the two roommates had escalated to violence before police arrived at the scene, where they found the victim restraining his roommate, who had sustained multiple 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 reported.

He indicated that preliminary investigation suggested the "officer's action stopped further harm and likely saved at least one life". Police subsequently recovered two knives from the scene.

Family's Allegation

A relative of Nizamuddin informed news agency ANI that a neighbor had contacted police after an argument between Nizamuddin and his roommate, which allegedly intensified over an air-conditioner dispute. The confrontation turned violent, involving knives.

Nizamuddin's father stated that he learned his son had a disagreement with his roommate over a "minor matter". He mentioned receiving information about the incident on Thursday morning and has requested assistance from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to help repatriate his son's remains to Mahabubnagar.

"I came to know he (Nizamuddin) was shot dead by Santa Clara Police, and his body is in some hospital in Santa Clara, California. I do not know the actual reasons why police shot him dead," Hasnuddin wrote in his letter to Mr Jaishankar.

Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan, who shared the letter with media outlets, also appealed to the External Affairs Minister to assist the family in this matter.