Two Border Security Force (BSF) troopers and a civilian driver were killed Tuesday when Maoists ambushed their vehicle in a forested area in Sukma district's Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.
The attack occurred when the BSF personnel were leaving Bastar after ensuring a largely peaceful first round of assembly elections held Monday.
"There was an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blast. A doctor who was also travelling in the vehicle was seriously injured," DGP Chhattisgarh Ramniwas told IANS.
The official said the attack took place on or near a bridge, about 380 km from the state capital Raipur.
Bastar, which is bigger in size than Kerala, has been a stronghold of Maoists for some three decades.
The second and final round of polling in the state is scheduled Nov 19.