Indian Student Shot Dead by Police in California; Family Seeks Help to Bring Body Home

An Indian student from Telangana’s Mahabubnagar district was shot dead by police in California earlier this month, his family said, urging the central government to help repatriate his body.

The deceased, identified as Mohammed Nizamuddin, moved to the US in 2016 for higher studies at Florida College before joining a software firm and later relocating to California.

His father, Mohammed Hasnuddin, told PTI that the incident occurred on September 3, though details remain unclear. In a letter to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, he said: “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.”

According to a relative quoted by ANI, a quarrel between Nizamuddin and his roommate over an air conditioner reportedly escalated into violence involving knives. A neighbor alerted the police. “When the police entered the room, they asked the occupants to show their hands. One boy complied; the other did not. The police then fired four rounds and the child was shot. It is extremely regrettable… the shooting happened so quickly,” the relative said.

The family has requested assistance from both the Centre and the Telangana government to bring back the mortal remains. “We also request the Telangana government’s assistance in bringing the body to Mahbubnagar. The family still does not have full information,” the relative added.

Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan posted Hasnuddin’s letter on X, urging Jaishankar to intervene.