Srinagar, July 7 -- The operation in Shopian district to trace two local terrorists of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit, who were believed to be trapped in a dense orchard, entered the third day on Monday, officials said.

The searches resumed at daybreak after a nightlong suspension to track down the two terrorists who were spotted by surveillance cameras on Friday last in an orchard in the Meemandar area, which comprises seven villages.

A joint team of several columns of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force laid a tight cordon around the area and cleared four villages by Sunday evening.

The two trapped terrorists have been identified as Latif and Zakir. They opened fire on the approaching Army pers...