Srinagar, Kashmir - Police in India-administered Kashmir Wednesday arrested a founder of Hizbul Mujahideen, the region's biggest rebel group, calling it a "major success" against insurgency in the state.

Mohammad Ahsan Dar, a close associate of Syed Salahuddin, the Hizbul Mujhahideen chief, was coordinating activities of major militant outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, police said.

Dar was arrested early Wednesday near Sumbal village in northern Kashmir, regional Deputy Inspector General of Police Abdul Gani Mir told reporters.

Police said Dar, as the founding chief of Hizbul Mujahideen in the late 1980s, had motivated, recruited and trained thousands of rebels to fight Indian security forces.

Mir said Dar broke away from Hizbul Mujahideen and founded another militant outfit called the Muslim Mujahideen in 1992. But he remained close to Salahuddin, who heads the United Jehad council, an alliance of militant outfits in the state.

Dar was arrested in 1993 and charged with threats to national security but was released on parole in 1999. Police said he later crossed over to Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where some anti-India militant outfits are based.

According to preliminary investigations, Dar had infiltrated the Indian side of Kashmir and was active for the last year.

"He was one of the pioneers of militancy in the state. His arrest is a major success and will prove a setback for the rebels," Mir said.

"He had organized various attacks on security forces and was trying to give a fresh impetus to militant activities within the state and the rest of the country," Mir added.

The disputed Kashmir region is divided into two parts, one administered by India the other by Pakistan. The neighbours have fought two wars over the disputed region.

More than 45,000 people have died in violence since violent secessionist militant movement emerged in the 1980s.

India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of aiding Kashmiri militants. Islamabad has denied the charge, calling the insurgents freedom fighters. (dpa)