A platoon commander and two others from the Chhattisgarh Special Armed Forces were killed in a landmine explosion triggered by Maoists in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh on Thursday, the police said.

On a tip-off that the Naxalites had stopped construction of a culvert on the Badgaon-Chhindgaon road, a police team from Badgaon police station headed for the spot on foot, when the ultras exploded the landmine near Chhindgaon village.

Platoon commander Mahulal, ASI Shyamlal Ambale and constable Sangram Salam were killed on the spot.

The ultras and security personnel are currently engaged in a shootout at the site, about five km from Badgaon, and details are being awaited.