A security personnel was killed and another wounded in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists in Jharkhand's Lohardaga district today, sparking off a fierce encounter between the two sides.

The blast was triggered when the two motorcycle-borne security personnel were crossing the area, inspector general of police VH Desmukh said here. This led to a gunbattle between the Maoists and the security forces which is continuing in the area, he said.