Orhan Şahin (33) lost his left eye after being hit on the eye with a tear gas capsule fired by police during protests in Istanbul's Sarıgazi district on Friday.

Istanbul police had brutally intervened a large crowd as they protested against the killing of 22 year-old Ahmet Atakan as a result of police violence in the southern province of Hatay on 9 September. Police used intense tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators on Friday evening.

Orhan Şahin, who was working in his workplace in the area as police crackdown continued, was hit on the left eye with a tear gas capsule fired by police. He was rushed to Ümraniye Research and Training Hospital where he had an eye surgery that lasted five hours. Doctors said that the man lost vision in his left eye.

Şahin's friends said that the capsule has completely damaged his left eye, adding that he is still receiving treatment at the hospital, and that the incident will become clearer after Şahin gives his statement to police, probably on Monday.