China to use injections to execute prisoners

Beijing, Jun 16: China will now on use lethal injections to execute condemned prisoners instead of shooting them. The China Daily newspaper reported that the Beijing Municipal High People's Court is preparing for the change by the end of this year by training police and medical staff to administer the injections.

Dui Hua Foundation, a San Francisco based human rights monitoring group meanwhile said that China executes more people every year than any other country in the world. Nearly 5,000 are expected to take place this year. Hu Yunteng, director general of the research bureau of the Supreme People's Court, told the newspaper that lethal injections are considered safer.

He said, "lethal injection, is considered more humane as it reduces criminals' fear and pain compared with a gunshot execution".

China at present, executes prisoners by shooting them, but it is not clear whether sentences are carried out by firing squad or single shot. Amnesty International, the Rights group has opposed the expansion of China's lethal injection program, urging for an end to the death penalty in the country.

OneIndia News