"I urge you to consider this proposal"
The family of Ronan Kanda, who was stabbed to death just yards away from his Wolverhampton home, is taking a petition to ban online sales of knives to Downing Street.
Sixteen-year-old Ronan was attacked after he visited a friend’s house to buy a PlayStation controller on June 29, 2022.
Pradjeet Veadhasa was owed money by Ronan’s friend and intended to confront him.
Upon seeing Ronan, Veadhasa and Sukhman Shergill mistakenly believed he was the boy they were after.
Ronan was attacked from behind as he listened to music in headphones.
Earlier in the day, Veadhasa had collected a ninja sword set and a large machete from a local post office after buying them online using a fake name.
Sukhman Shergill carried the machete while Veadhasa stabbed Ronan twice with the sword and he died at the scene.
The two teenagers were jailed for life in July 2023, with Veadhasa serving a minimum term of 18 years and Shergill serving a minimum of 16.
Ronan’s mother, Pooja Kanda, is now calling for the Government to act as “too many families and communities are being torn apart because these knives are so easily obtainable”.
The petition stated: “I urge you to consider this proposal and save the lives of so many innocent people that deserve to be safe on our streets.
“When something like this happens, people are quick to use the saying ‘wrong place at the wrong time’.
“People are also quick to assume knife crimes are gang-related.
“Whilst that might be the case in some instances, my son was not in the wrong place at the wrong time – he was just two doors away from his home. It was broad daylight on a summer’s evening.
“Nor was he part of a gang – he was a sweet, loving, hard-working boy with many friends and a very bright future ahead of him. He should still be with us today.”
More than 10,000 people have signed the petition.
The family will be accompanied by MP Pat McFadden on their trip to Downing Street on September 18, 2023.
In June 2023, Ronan’s family visited Parliament to meet Policing Minister Chris Philp MP and Shadow Minister Sarah Jones to call for stricter legislation.
His sister Nikita Kanda said they wanted justice for the “way our beautiful boy was taken in broad daylight”.
Under new government proposals discussed in August, police officers will be given more powers to seize and destroy “zombie-style” knives.
The maximum penalty for the importation, manufacturing, possession and sale of these weapons will be increased from six months to two years, as will the maximum penalty for sales to under 18s.
Mrs Kanda said the government’s new legislation would be “a step in the right direction” but emphasised the need for an outright ban.
She added: “There is no place for these knives on our streets or in anyone’s home.”
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