A 30-year-old Indian man, Mohammed Nizamuddin from Mahabubnagar in Telangana, was shot dead by police in Santa Clara, California, earlier this month.
According to the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD), officers responded to a 911 call on September 3 about a stabbing inside a residence.

Police said they found Nizamuddin holding a knife and pinning down his injured roommate when they entered the house. Officers then fired shots at him. He was taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

“The suspect was transported to a local hospital, where they were later pronounced deceased. The victim was transported to a local hospital and is being treated for their injuries,” the SCPD statement said.

Officials added that the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and SCPD are carrying out a joint probe into the case.

Nizamuddin’s family has questioned the police account, claiming that he himself had dialed 911 before being shot. They have alleged racial discrimination and are demanding a detailed investigation into what happened.

The family said Nizamuddin had studied for a Master’s degree in Computer Science in Florida before joining a tech company in Santa Clara. They described him as a quiet, religious person who had spoken out publicly against workplace harassment and racial discrimination.

On LinkedIn, Nizamuddin had written: “I have been a victim of racial hatred, racial discrimination, racial harassment, torture, wage fraud, wrongful termination, and obstruction of Justice.”

In the same post, he added: “Enough is enough, white supremacy/racist white American mentality has to end.”

He also said that he faced poisoning of food, eviction, and intimidation by a detective.

His family has sought the support of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India to bring back his body, which is currently at a hospital in Santa Clara for formalities.

Majlis Bachao Tehreek spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan said he has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, asking Indian authorities in Washington D.C. and San Francisco to provide a detailed report and assist in repatriation.

At the time of reporting, the MEA had not issued an official response.