The founder of the Hizbul Mujahideen was arrested on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.
Muhammad Ahsan Dar, one of the most senior guerrilla commanders, was arrested in Baramulla's Sumbal area following a tip-off about his presence, police said.
"He was one of the top commanders still actively involved in militancy here," a police officer said.
Dar, who had founded the Hizbul Mujahideen guerrilla group in 1990, was also its chief commander. In 1992, he was replaced by Syed Salahuddin, the present chief commander of the outfit who is based in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan administered Kashmir.
Dar was arrested by security forces as head of a splinter group of the Hizbul Mujahideen in 1993 and released in 1997 after which he is believed to have rejoined the guerrilla ranks.