A man from Telangana, India, has reportedly been fatally shot by police in Santa Clara, California, sparking an appeal by his family to the Indian government for help in bringing his body home. The deceased, identified as Mohammed Nizamuddin, was 30 years old and from Mahbubnagar district. He had moved to the US to pursue higher education and later worked as a software professional.
According to his father, Mohammed Hasnuddin, the incident took place on September 3. Details surrounding what exactly led to the shooting remain unclear, with reports indicating a “scuffle” between Nizamuddin and his roommate. The family’s understanding is that the disagreement began over a relatively minor issue.
Nizamuddin’s father communicated his distress to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking urgent assistance to repatriate his son’s mortal remains. In his letter, he asked that the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, and the Consulate General in San Francisco facilitate the process. The body is believed to be held at a hospital in Santa Clara under US jurisdiction.
Further claims from the family challenge parts of the official narrative offered so far. They allege that Nizamuddin himself may have called for help before being shot. Witnesses stated that when police arrived, they ordered occupants to raise their hands. One complied; the other allegedly failed to, after which officers allegedly fired four rounds.
Authorities in Santa Clara, for their part, report that they responded to a 911 call about a stabbing. They say Nizamuddin was found with a knife and allegedly pinning his roommate, who was injured. After police intervention, he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. The roommate is receiving medical treatment.
Community groups and political activists from Telangana have spoken out, sharing the father’s plea and calling for greater transparency in the investigation. The family continues to press the Indian government for swift action to bring back Nizamuddin’s body, as questions remain over the circumstances of the shooting.