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No-one is safe

1/ 1/2003

A ROCHDALE man who was stabbed while walking home from pre-dawn prayers at the mosque says he is now terrified to walk alone outside.

Twenty-year-old Amir Din dreads leaving his home on Milnrow Road, Rochdale, after his ordeal and believe people are no longer safe in the streets.

Amir's own ordeal began when he left the Central Mosque on Tweedale Street around 4.30am during Ramadan. He was approached from behind by two youths, one of whom was holding a 5-inch knife. They asked for cigarettes and money but Amir did not have either.

One of them then held the knife to Amir's throat while the other checked his pockets and found his wallet was empty. In desperation Amir gave them his mobile phone. They then let go and Amir made an attempt to run.

He slipped and the thugs caught him again and stabbed him in the stomach and three times in the back. Amir managed to crawl away. He managed to get to Oldham Road where two postmen on their way to work at the nearby Ainsworth Street depot spotted Amir and called an ambulance. He was in hospital for nearly two-weeks during which time he missed out on fasting and celebrating Eid.

Said Amir, who now back home: "The stab wounds will heal soon but the memory of what happened will last for a long time. I was so scared that night that all I can remember is that I didn't want to die. Every time I close my eyes I see what happened.

"It's left an emotional scar which will take along time to heal. I've been using the same route to come home from mosque for years and I always felt safe until recently. Now I'm dreading leaving the house, I don't know how I will manage.

"You never think it will happen to you but it did and now I just want to warn people not to walk home late at night by themselves. Even if the roads are clear, you cannot be 100 per cent safe."

Amir's mother Khalsoom said local residents living in and around Milnrow Road will be setting up a neighbourhood watch scheme.

She said: "After the attack, our lives are just not the same anymore. We thought we were going to lose our son at one point and I would never want any parent to ever go through that. I constantly worry whenever someone leaves the house. We want people to feel safe again which is why people in this area want to set up this scheme."

The youth with the knife is described as white, 5ft 10in, slim, 18-20, with short dark hair. He wore white trainers, dark blue jeans and navy blue hooded top. His accomplice, also white was 17-19, 5ft 7in, chubby with short dark hair. He had a slightly spotted face and a tiny cut in his left cheek. He wore black shoes, navy blue jeans, white T-shirt and a white zippered jacket.