The policemen manning the checkpost returned the fire and the encounter continued for some time before the militants withdrew to Khyber Agency.

No casualty was, however, reported. The security posts in the area bordering Khyber Agency have come under frequent attacks in recent months.

Meanwhile, militants fired two rockets at a market on Kohat Road in the jurisdiction of the Badaber Police Station Saturday night.

A police official said that rockets were fired at a market owned by a member of the local anti-militants Amn Lashkar. Though no casualty was reported in the attack, a small portion of the market was damaged. The police launched a search operation in the area after the attack in a bid to nab suspects.