There has been a tragic turn of events in the life of Mohammed Nizamuddin, a 32-year-old man from Telangana’s Mahabubnagar district, who was shot dead by police in Santa Clara, California, last month. The family is now hoping in desperation that India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) comes to their rescue by repatriating his mortal remains home.
Incident Details
The shooting took place on September 3, 2025, when police in the area came to a 911 call of a stabbing involving Nizamuddin and his roommate. In police reports, officers were met with Nizamuddin holding a knife and reportedly keeping his roommate pinned down, who was wounded. After a series of verbal commands had been disregarded, police fired four shots, killing Nizamuddin. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Background and Family’s Perspective
Nizamuddin had immigrated to the United States in 2016 to study for a Master’s degree in Computer Science at a Florida college. Following his graduation, he served at several IT firms, including Google through EPAM Systems, and was recently residing in shared accommodation in California after a promotion at work.
Prior to the shooting, Nizamuddin made postings in social media that he was a victim of racial discrimination, harassment, wrongful dismissal, and wage fraud. His family has complained about the events that led to the shooting and questioned whether the investigation was adequate.
His father, Mohammed Hasnuddin, directly appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking immediate help in the repatriation of his son’s body to India. According to the family, they learned about the horrific death only two weeks after the event occurred, and this worsened their distress and mourning.
Official Responses and Investigations
The Ministry of External Affairs has guaranteed that it is in touch with US officials and the family, assuring them that it will do everything possible to help. The police locally in Santa Clara are investigating the shooting in cooperation with the District Attorney’s Office, labeling it as an “officer-involved shooting” following a call to report an emergency.
Call for Justice and Transparency
Family and friends have demanded a full, open investigation into the matter, calling for an examination of allegations of racial harassment and the provision of justice. Activists have pointed out the larger issues of discrimination in the workplace and racial prejudice against Indian expatriates in the US.
This episode has highlighted the predicaments of Indian expatriates, and the plea of the family for assistance indicates the necessity of diplomatic and legal intervention. While investigations continue, hope remains that justice will be done and the mortal remains of Nizamuddin will be repatriated to Telangana to give closure to his weeping family.
