Mother Champions Parents' Evenings as Key to Tackling Knife Crime Epidemic
The grieving mother of a teenager brutally murdered in a case of mistaken identity is proposing a novel approach to combat the scourge of knife crime: leveraging school parents' evenings. Pooja Kanda, 49, has dedicated her life to preventing youth violence since her 16-year-old son Ronan was fatally attacked in June 2022.
A Tragic Case of Mistaken Identity
Ronan Kanda was walking home from a friend's house in Wolverhampton when he was ambushed by two fellow pupils, Prabjeet Veadhesa and Sukhman Shergill, both aged 17. The attackers had intended to target a rival but mistakenly identified Ronan as their victim. Veadhesa wielded a 20-inch "ninja" sword, plunging it into Ronan's back and chest, piercing his heart in a vicious assault.
Disturbingly, Veadhesa had purchased the lethal weapon using his mother's identification, with bungling Post Office workers handing it over just hours before the killing. Following the murder, the remorseless pair returned to Veadhesa's home, ordered takeaways, and played video games, displaying chilling indifference to their horrific crime.
Both perpetrators were jailed for life in 2023, with Veadhesa ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years and Shergill a minimum of 16 years. The case highlighted not only the accessibility of deadly weapons but also profound failures in parental guidance and moral education.
A Mother's Unwavering Crusade
Since her son's murder, Pooja Kanda has become a formidable campaigner against knife crime and the online sale of dangerous weapons. Her efforts have already yielded legislative change: "Ronan's Law" now prohibits the sale, manufacture, or import of ninja swords in the United Kingdom. Last month, her tireless anti-knife crime work was recognized with an OBE.
Pooja and her daughter Nikita regularly visit schools and charities to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives. However, they now believe engaging directly with parents is crucial to preventing children from descending into criminality.
Parents' Evenings: A Captive Audience for Change
In an exclusive interview, Pooja explained why school parents' evenings represent an ideal opportunity to reach adults. "Parents are vital," she emphasized. "They have a responsibility. Bringing up a child on this earth and not nurturing them with values causes so much pain."
Reflecting on her own experience as a single mother, Pooja acknowledged the challenges of parenting but stressed the importance of instilling respect and values. "I'm not saying 'become me', I'm saying 'be better in what you are doing'. I see a lot of parents, especially the murderers' parents, they didn't have any morals or values between them."
Pooja described a particularly shocking moment during the court case when one of the killers' mothers told her, "My son hasn't done anything wrong." This revelation, she said, "opened my eyes" to how parental attitudes can enable criminal behavior. "That boy, sitting in his cell for the next 16 years, still doesn't think he's done anything wrong because his mum is there backing him up."
She envisions campaigners like herself stationed in school halls during parents' evenings, with informative posters displayed and direct conversations initiated. "A school is a great portal to get that support to parents," Pooja asserted. "I'm never giving up on this. I'm not giving up on the children who deserve to know what we can do to support them."
Unending Grief and Unwavering Resolve
Nearly four years after Ronan's murder, Pooja admits she remains "absolutely broken." The pain, she says, has only intensified with time. "It feels like I didn't protect my child, I failed to protect him. Ronan was my life. When I think back to before the murder, I was such a happy person, we were such a happy family."
She described how grief ambushes her unexpectedly, with Ronan's face appearing in her mind at random moments. "I do everything in my power to stay strong, because I don't want people to see my tears, but sometimes I can't stop them. It's constant pain, constant darkness."
Pooja has explicitly rejected any possibility of meeting her son's killers through restorative justice programs. "For me, the courtroom gave me my answers," she explained. "I saw everything in there. It was very clear. They were ordering takeaways, playing PlayStation, after knowing they had taken Ronan's life. I never want to meet them or see them again."
Her determination remains steadfast: "If it wasn't my son it would have been someone else's son, either another mistaken victim or the intended target. Unfortunately on this occasion it was my son, who I really, really, absolutely adored. There is no way I will ever forgive them."
Continuing the Legislative Battle
Beyond her grassroots educational efforts, Pooja continues to advocate for stronger legal measures. Amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, which would mandate identity checks at collection points for knives, are currently progressing through the House of Lords. Additionally, the government is conducting a consultation on implementing a licensing system for knife sellers and importers, including provisions for age verification and secure packaging.
Pooja Kanda's story represents both profound personal tragedy and remarkable resilience. By transforming her grief into action, she aims to prevent other families from experiencing similar devastation, recognizing that engaging parents through established community institutions like schools may hold the key to meaningful change in the fight against youth knife crime.
