'Faced harassment at workplace': Who was Indian techie Nizamuddin? Shot dead by US cop, was fired from job 6 months ago

HYDERABAD: Mohammed Nizamuddin, a 32-year-old student from Telangana, was fatally shot by police in Santa Clara, California, after reportedly attacking his roommate with a knife. The incident took place on September 3, but his family only learned of his death two weeks later.

Who was Nizamuddin?

Nizamuddin moved to the US in 2016 to pursue higher studies and later settled in Santa Clara. He graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology and worked as a software engineer for a major company. A family friend alleged that he faced harassment at his workplace.

Friend suspects harassment at workplace

A friend of Nizamuddin in Hyderabad said he learned that Nizamuddin faced harassment at his workplace and was also being targeted by one of his roommates. MBT leader Amjed Ullah Khan, who visited the family in Mahbubnagar, stated that Nizamuddin had reportedly been removed from his job six months ago. The family has demanded a thorough investigation into the incident and called for action against the police officer who shot Nizamuddin dead.

Family learns of tragedy after two weeks

His family in Mahbubnagar learned of his death only two weeks after the incident. Nizamuddin, a software engineer and graduate of the Florida Institute of Technology, was working for a major technology company and living in shared accommodation in Santa Clara.

“I tried calling my son several times, but his phone was switched off. Only later did we learn he had been killed,” said his father, Husnuddin, a retired teacher. The news was first conveyed to the family on September 18 by a friend of Nizamuddin from Raichur, Karnataka, who also resides in Santa Clara. Social worker and Majlis Bachao Tehreek head Amjed Ullah Khan has written to India’s external affairs minister, S. Jaishankar, seeking assistance to bring Nizamuddin’s body back to India.

“From what we know, Nizamuddin got into a fight with another person, and the police were called to intervene. In the process the police opened fire and he was killed,” Khan said.

Police account of the incident

According to the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD), officers responded around 6:08 am local time on September 3 to a 911 call reporting a stabbing 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,” the department said. Police recovered two knives at the scene. SCPD Chief Cory Morgan explained that Nizamuddin was allegedly holding a knife and threatening further attacks when officers arrived. “Based on our preliminary investigation, we believe the officer’s actions prevented further harm and clearly saved at least one life,” Morgan said.