Hundreds have planned to protest for tougher youth crime laws after the brutal alleged stabbing of Rhyan Singh

Hundreds of community members are rallying behind a Tarneit teen’s push for tougher youth crime laws after he was allegedly viciously attacked for his Nikes while playing basketball on his birthday.

Rhyan Singh, 16, was brutally stabbed while celebrating his 16th birthday last week. His family have organised several rallies to make a stand against youth crime and raise awareness for victims.Picture supplied.

Hundreds of people will rally behind a Tarneit teenager to call for tougher youth crime laws after he was allegedly brutally stabbed for his shoes in a violent robbery

Rhyan Singh and two mates were playing basketball at Tarneit’s Baden Powell skatepark before dinner when they were surrounded by a group of about eight alleged machete-wielding offenders wearing ski masks who had pulled up in a dark-coloured vehicle on July 31.

The youngest of Rhyan’s friends, a 13-year-old boy, managed to escape while Rhyan and another 15-year-old boy attempted to “comply” with the alleged offenders’ demands.

“I was so happy he got away and he was safe because he’s the youngest,” Rhyan told the Herald Sun.

“I tried to do what they wanted but they were very violent.”

It was Rhyan’s 16th birthday and it is believed he may have been targeted for the new Nike Air Jordan sneakers he had received as a gift.

“They surrounded us with weapons and told us to give them phones and shoes. We handed it over to them because we thought we would go unharmed and that wasn’t the case,” he said.

“You realise that at that moment there are eight people standing around you and you could die and this is scary.

“It was a long 10 to 15 minutes. You see it happening to other people and when you realise it’s about to happen to you, you need to process it very quickly”.

Rhyan was allegedly knocked unconscious by a blow to the back of the head with a metal bat before he was allegedly viciously stabbed in the back, legs and hands as he lay on the ground.

He awoke minutes later to “blood everywhere” and his ring and little finger “hanging off”.

He was rushed to hospital where he required eight hours of micro surgery and several sessions with hand specialists.

Two 16-year-olds have since been charged and a 20-year-old has been arrested.

Concerned residents held a meeting at a local cricket club about taking action this week, with the group planning to host a rally at the Baden Powell skatepark on Saturday, August 12.

Concerned residents met at a Tarneit cricket club to discuss a plan of action after Rhyan Singh was brutally stabbed at a Baden Powell skatepark. Picture: Preet Singh

The following week they will take their movement to Melbourne’s CBD where they will march from Flinders St to Parliament.

The group intends to table a petition, which has received more than 1000 signatures so far, calling for stronger laws to hold youthful offenders “accountable for their crimes [and] provide stronger rehabilitation programs to address the root cause”.

It outlines the high rates of crime in the area, including aggravated robberies and assaults.

“The perpetrators have no fear of the law. Our kids are scared to go outside on their own,” it reads.

“Police are doing their job but are under resourced and helpless due to soft laws.”

Rhyan said the rallies are about making sure “every kid feels safe” in their communities.

“This is about bringing all the communities together to call for tougher laws around youth crimes and violence,” he said.

“It could happen to anyone and anyone’s kid and I don’t want anyone’s family to go through that.”

Rhyan Singh is a keen cricketer

“We want every kid to be safe when they go out and put an end to youth and knife crime”.

The organisers hope other victims of youth crime and stabbings will support their push.

Last month three teenagers were stabbed at Watergardens Shopping Centre in Melbourne’s northwest, with an 18-year-old and two 17-year-olds later charged.

In June Ethan Hoac, 14, was stabbed to death in St Albans on his way home from a train station while in a separate incident a teenager was left with life-threatening injuries after he was stabbed by another teen on a bus in Preston during a brawl.

In May 16-year-old Pasawm Lyhym was fatally stabbed at Sunshine station.

In the wake of the incident police raised concerns about retaliation from “tit for tat” rivalry groups in Sunshine and Braybrook.

Rhyan said his recovery was “on track” and has set a goal to return to his beloved Point Cook cricket club this summer, where last season he broke in to the senior side as a 15-year-old.

He has played representative cricket for the U17 Western Region boys team where he scored a century as an opening batsman last summer.

A state government spokesperson said:

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Rhyan and his loved ones as they deal with this incident -- violence of any kind is unacceptable and Victoria Police is taking all necessary steps to disrupt this serious crime,” the spokesperson said.

“We have made record investments in Victoria Police to ensure they have the resources and tools they need to detect and deter crime and keep our community safe.

“It’s important to recognise that only a small number of young people are involved in serious violent crime, and even fewer first-time offenders. However we know more work needs to be done - that’s why the Budget continues to back early intervention and crime prevention programs to empower communities and support young people away from crime.”