Munir Ahmad Bukhari, a self-styled Divisional Commander of the outfit in north Kashmir, was nabbed in Nowhamam village in Sopore, 55-km from here, a police spokesman said.
He operated with code names of "Sajjad Baloch, Hamza, Amir and Ghazi Sajad", the spokesman said.
Bukhari was involved in a number of militancy-linked incidents including grenade attacks on the Rashtriya Rifles Headquarters and Sopore Police Station in 2010.
The militant was operating under the direct command of Pakistan-based Chief Commander of Al-Badr Yousf Baloch, the spokesman said.
An AK rifle, three magazines, a satellite phone and 90 rounds were recovered from his possession, he said.