BHUBANESWAR/ROURKELA/KEONJHAR: An explosives trader and his driver were arrested in Rourkela on Tuesday for illegal operations, with local police simultaneously inspecting explosives storage facilities in Keonjhar district. The crackdown follows the recent loot of 4,000 kg of explosives materials by Maoists from a stone quarry in Sundargarh district on May 27.Shravan Agrawal (42) and his driver Birsa Samad alias Ishak Samad (30), who were arrested in Rourkela, do not have any links with Maoists, police said. “Agrawal is accused of selling explosives to unlicensed persons, preparing fake invoices, fudging stock registers and facilitating illegal storage. We have so far not found his link with Naxals,” SP (Rourkela), Nitesh Wadhwani, told TOI.The arrests occurred after cops found explosives materials in a truck near a petrol station on June 1, posing public safety risks. A second truck containing unauthorised explosives was seized on Tuesday.The accused were booked under sections 288 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance), 125 (endangering life or personal safety of others), 318(4) (cheating) of the BNS and section 4 and 5 of Explosives Substance Act. The seized trucks contained explosives, super electronic detonators, and various types of wires, used for blasting in mines and stone quarries.“Our investigation revealed Agrawal’s involvement in illegal explosive distribution for profit, with four warehouses located in different areas of Bargaon in his name,” another police officer said.DIG (western range), Brijesh Kumar Rai, said, “The accused not just supplied explosives to ineligible persons, but also violated the SOPs regarding the safe movement of explosives on roads. Further investigation is on.”Following the loot of explosives in Sundargarh, police in Keonjhar district inspected all magazine explosives warehouses in mining-dominated Joda, Barbil, Champua, Bamebari, Rugudi, Bolani, Sadar, Ghatgaon, Soso and Daitari areas and checked their licences, safety measures and compliance of guidelines for storage.“An awareness meeting is going to be organised with the owners of all explosives warehouses in the district. Strict action will be taken against those who violate the rules,” said SP (Kepnjhar), Nitin Kusalkar.Sources said districts like Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar require substantial explosives due to extensive mining operations. Police are scrutinising storage facilities, transportation practices and documentation.“Frequent violations of safety protocols, with explosives transported improperly on motorcycles have come to the fore. Warehouses, typically situated half a km from village boundaries, often lack adequate security personnel,” Santosh Nayak, a retired police officer, said.