Top militant commander and former founder of the Hizbul Mujaheedin Mohammad Ahsan Dar was arrested by the security forces in Srinagar [Images] on Wednesday.

"Acting on specific information, the police arrested Dar in northern Kashmir. He is one of the top militant commanders in the Valley," said a senior police officer.

Dar had been expelled from the Hizbul Mujaheedin in 1992. He was replaced by current Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin, who is presently operating as the group's supreme commander from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

Salahudddin also heads the United Jehad Council, a conglomerate of over a dozen militant outfits active in Kashmir.

Dar was arrested in 1993, when he was heading a splinter group of the Hizbul Mujahideen [Images], and released in 1997.

Security personnel believe that he rejoined the militants and was actively involved in various militant activities in the Valley.