Hyderabad: Shortly before his tragic death at the hands of the Santa Clara police in California on September 3, 32-year-old software engineer Mohammed Nizamuddin from Telangana had shared a haunting message online. His words revealed deep pain and highlighted his belief that he had become a victim of racial hatred and discrimination in the United States.

In his only post on LinkedIn, he wrote with visible anger and despair: “Today I decided to raise my voice against all odds. Enough is enough; white supremacy/racist white American mentality has to end.” Alongside this bold declaration, he explained how he had suffered from workplace harassment, torture, wage fraud, wrongful termination, and even obstruction of justice.

Nizamuddin, who had been struggling without employment for nearly a year and a half, said he was constantly subjected to racial hostility at his workplace. According to him, the office environment was unbearable. He alleged, “In addition to that, the company committed a salary fraud. I was not paid fairly, not in accordance with wage levels. They wrongfully terminated my employment. It did not end there. They continued their harassment, discrimination, and intimidating behaviour with the help of a racist detective and team.”

The young engineer further described how the situation worsened with time, saying, “Lately, the situation has deteriorated and become worse. My food was poisoned, and now I am being evicted from my current residence for fighting against the unjust.”

He openly named those he considered responsible, calling them his “main aggressors” — “colleagues, employer, client, detective, and their community altogether.” He warned that the same oppression could target anyone: “They are the troublemakers and oppressors behind the current chaos, not me. It is happening with me today, and it can happen to anyone tomorrow. So, I ask the world to do the needful in demanding justice against the oppression and wrongdoings of people involved. I totally understand I am no saint, but they need to understand they are no God. I will upload the remainder of the files in another post.”

He attached 19 documents to that post but never followed up with another. This was the only statement he ever made on his LinkedIn profile, even though he occasionally commented on other people’s posts. His words, however, now stand as his chilling final testimony.

Back home in Mahabubnagar, his father, Hasnuddin, broke down while speaking to reporters. His demand was simple yet powerful: “There should be an investigation, and the police officer should be punished.” For the grieving family, Nizamuddin’s words and untimely death have become an undeniable symbol of racism in America, where justice often remains elusive for immigrants.

‘Arguments over thermostat, household fights’: US police on Indian techie’s disputes with roommate; to verify ‘racial discrimination’ post

The Santa Clara Police Department, in its official note, confirmed that it would investigate the authorship of the disturbing posts made by Mohammed Nizamuddin regarding “racial discrimination” and his claims of harassment.

Nizamuddin, hailing from Telangana’s Mahbubnagar district, was shot dead inside his own residence in Santa Clara after police responded to a 911 call about a stabbing. Officers claimed they fired when they found him holding a knife and allegedly attacking a victim lying on the floor.

Police officials admitted: “Investigators are aware of an online posting attributed to the suspect (Nizamuddin) that, in part, expressed his belief that he faced racial discrimination in the workplace and ascribed blame to perceived ‘white supremacy’ (posted about eight hours before the attack). The suspect was previously employed as a contracted worker through a third-party agency until his termination in February 2024. He publicly stated online that he believed his job loss was the result of discrimination. A search warrant is pending to confirm authorship of those posts.”

The department stated that the incident on September 3, 2025, on Eisenhower Drive, remained under investigation as an “officer-involved shooting.” Police chief Cory Morgan’s earlier comments were supplemented by new details in their updated statement on September 19.

According to police, Nizamuddin had been sharing the residence with the victim and two other tenants. Their statement attempted to shift the blame to household quarrels: “Our investigation at this point has determined that the relationship between the suspect and victim deteriorated in recent months. Disagreements escalated over household matters, including thermostat use, and tensions increased after an incident in July 2025 when the suspect damaged property after an argument with the victim.”

They further noted that after this July quarrel, the landlord began eviction proceedings against him. On August 29, 2025, one of the roommates testified in court in support of the eviction. Police concluded that this testimony may have been a major factor leading up to the tragic incident.

But behind these official claims lies a bigger question: Was this truly just a household dispute, or the result of systemic racial harassment and discrimination that Nizamuddin had clearly documented just hours before his death?

‘American mentality has to end’: Telangana engineer gunned down by US police amid unemployment struggles

In his last desperate message to the world, Mohammed Nizamuddin repeated what he believed to be the root of his suffering: “Today I decided to raise my voice against all odds. Enough is enough; white supremacy/racist white American mentality has to end.” His words echoed his long struggle in America, where he said he was harassed at work, denied fair wages, and later forced into unemployment.

He explained that after his wrongful termination, the harassment never stopped. “In addition to that, the company committed a salary fraud. I was not paid fairly, not in accordance with wage levels. They wrongfully terminated my employment. It did not end there. They continued their harassment and discrimination with the help of a racist detective and team.”

The Indian consulate in San Francisco confirmed it was closely working with both US authorities and his family. They said, “We are saddened by the death of Indian national Nizamuddin in an incident involving Santa Clara police. We are in contact with the local authorities and the family, and we will extend consular assistance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family.”

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi also issued condolences: “Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.” Officials confirmed that a grievance had been registered on the Madad portal and shared with the concerned Indian mission for action. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters: “We understand that an investigation is underway. You would also have seen that the local police have released a video and statement giving details of the circumstances. We will render assistance.”

Nizamuddin, who had completed higher studies in the US, had been living in Santa Clara while searching for work. According to police, he was shot after officers responded to a call about a stabbing. They claimed they found him with a knife, attacking his roommate, and therefore opened fire. He suffered four bullet injuries and died on September 3.

The Santa Clara Police Department stated: “On Sept 3, at 6.18 am, SCPD officers responded to the 1800 block of Eisenhower Drive in Santa Clara for the report of a stabbing in a residence. The caller stated the suspect had stabbed one victim in the residence.” They added: “Officers arrived, encountered the suspect, and were involved in an officer-involved shooting. The suspect was transported to a local hospital where they were later pronounced deceased. The victim was transported to a local hospital.”

The death has shaken his hometown of Mahabubnagar, where his family and friends are waiting for his body to be brought back. To them, this tragedy is not only about a personal loss but also about the failure of America to protect immigrants from racism, discrimination, and violence.