A heartbroken mother has issued a powerful warning about the growing threat of knife violence among young people after her 16-year-old son was tragically murdered. Pooja Kanda, 47, expressed her deep sorrow and frustration over the escalating knife crime epidemic, which claimed the life of her son, Ronan, who was fatally stabbed in a case of mistaken identity in Wolverhampton.
Ronan’s death occurred in June 2022 when two teenagers, armed with a machete and swords they purchased online, intended to target a friend of Ronan’s who owed money to one of them. In a horrific twist, they mistakenly attacked Ronan instead. Since his death, Pooja has been left devastated, haunted by the rise in violence that is increasingly affecting children as young as 12, reported by the Mirror.
“Every time something like that happens your heart is broken over and over,” Pooja shared. “I just feel it takes me back to the day, how painful that moment was.” Her grief is compounded each time she hears about another stabbing. Recent deaths, such as the fatal stabbing of 12-year-old Leo Ross in Birmingham and 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose in Sheffield, serve as painful reminders of the growing crisis.
Pooja’s anger and sadness are echoed in her words: “It’s very hard to continue to live in a positive way when you continuously see knife violence growing among these children. Things are definitely getting worse. It’s getting younger and younger.” Her advocacy stems from a personal loss that she now shares with other parents who have been similarly affected.
Ronan, a promising young man with dreams of becoming a lawyer, had just completed his GCSEs when he was murdered. Relatives described him as someone who “would do anything for anyone,” with a lively sense of humor that made him a beloved figure among his peers.
Since Ronan’s death, Pooja has become an active voice in the fight against knife crime, working with the government’s coalition to tackle the issue. She has strongly advocated for stricter regulation of bladed weapons and more effective intervention strategies, especially in schools. “The schools are the hot spots where this type of behaviour begins,” she said, stressing the importance of addressing the issue from an early age.
With knife crime continuing to rise, and official figures showing an 80% increase over the past decade, Pooja fears that more innocent lives will be lost unless urgent action is taken. “If my son can lose his life, so can any innocent child,” she added. Her heartbreaking loss has transformed into a powerful campaign for change, as she calls for stronger police action and prevention measures to protect the next generation.
