The army on Monday issued a statement saying “Mayer Daak” chief’s brother Saiful Islam Shamol was detained earlier on the day on suspicions of being an extortionist and later escorted back to his home after quizzing cleared the doubts against him.

The statement, issued in an ISPR press release, attempted to address and refute criticisms surfacing on social media against the army’s role in the detention shortly after the news of the incident broke.

The ISPR release claimed, Saiful, elder brother of Mayer Daak chief Sanzida Islam Tuli, was detained from the capital’s Shaheenbagh area around 2.45pm over multiple accusations of extortions against him.

Shamol was taken to the nearest Army outpost for interrogation, and Army personnel escorted him back to his home, upon releasing him about two hours later.

The ISPR press release cited at least two previous instances of legal actions against Shamol for justifying Army’s suspicions over his criminal involvement.

Shamol spent time in jail in case filed with the Ramna police station over illegal arms possession. In 2016, he was arrested in another case.

Mayer Daak is an oranisation demanding the return of individuals abducted allegedly by law enforcers during the 15-year Awami League regime, and Shamol’s family ties with the organization’s current chief raised particular concern over his sudden detention by the Army.

It is undesirable to prioritise someone’s family ties and overlooking the person’s criminal records in making misleading claims, the ISPR release said requesting all to act responsibly and on the basis of facts when publicising news.