Raipur, Nov 12 (IANS) 

At least two Border Security Force (BSF) troopers were killed Tuesday when Maoists ambushed their vehicle in a forested area of Bastar region in Chhattisgarh, an official said.

A third BSF trooper was seriously injured in the attack in Sukma district. The BSF personnel were leaving Bastar after ensuring a largely peaceful first round of elections to the state assembly in Chhattisgarh.

"There was an IED (Improvised Explosive Devise) blast. Two BSF men have been killed while one was injured," a BSF official told IANS.

The official said the attack took place on or near a bridge, about 380 km from Raipur. No further details were immediately available.

Bastar, which is bigger in size than Kerala, has been a stronghold of Maoists for some three decades.

The first phase of the Chhattisgarh assembly elections was held Monday. The second and final round is slated to be held Nov 19.