.jpeg)
A 30-year-old man from Telangana was shot dead by the police in California in the United States, earlier this month, after he allegedly stabbed his roommate with a knife.
According to information shared by his family, the incident happened on September 3. Mohammed Nizamuddin had moved to the US in 2016 for higher education at Florida College, where he completed his MS. Later, he joined a software company and, after a promotion, shifted to California for work.
His father, Mohammed Hasnuddin, told news agency PTI that the news of his son’s death was conveyed by one of Nizamuddin’s friends, though it remained unclear what exactly happened that day. What has been confirmed is that the police in Santa Clara fired at his son, leading to his death.
"I tried calling my son several times, but his phone was switched off. Only later did we learn he had been killed," Husnuddin was quoted by TOI as saying.
According to a statement issued by Santa Clara police department (SCPD) on its website, officers responded to a 911 call around 6.08 am local time on Sept 3, 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 statement said.
Police Chief Cory Morgan said the fight between the two roommates turned violent, with one stabbing the other before officers reached the spot. When police broke into the house, Nizamuddin was holding a knife and threatening to attack again.
“From our initial investigation, it appears the officer’s action stopped further harm and likely saved at least one life,” Morgan stated. Officers later recovered two knives from the scene.
Meanwhile, a relative of the deceased told ANI that a neighbour had called the police after a quarrel between Nizamuddin and his roommate, which allegedly escalated over an air-conditioner. The situation turned violent, and knives were involved.
Family’s plea for help
Hasnuddin has written a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, requesting urgent assistance to bring his son’s mortal remains back home. “Today morning, I came to know he (Nizamuddin) was shot dead by Santa Clara Police and his mortal remains are in some hospital in Santa Clara, California. I do not know the actual reasons why police shot him dead,” the letter read.
According to the father, the scuffle between Nizamuddin and his roommate was over a small issue. The family is hoping that the Embassy of India in Washington DC and the Indian Consulate in San Francisco will intervene quickly to ensure the body is flown back to Mahabubnagar for the last rites.
Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan also shared Hasnuddin’s letter on social media, appealing to the central and Telangana governments to step in.
