Sikh security firms up USA

Sikhs may well be finding the going tough in post-9/11 America, but for a large Sikh group based in New Mexico, things have never been better, reports S Rajagopalan.

Sikhs may well be finding the going tough in post-9/11 America, but for a large Sikh group based in Espanola, New Mexico, things have never been better.

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'Sikh Dharma' is composed predominantly of American-born converts. The group's offshoot, 'Akal Security', has emerged as one of the biggest providers of security for sensitive government sites, ranging from military installations and airports to courthouses and water supply systems across the US.

The 'Sikh Dharma' was founded by Yogi Bhajan, an Indian-born Sikh spiritual leader who moved to the US in 1969. He made Espanola his religious base. His followers have since been flocking there in pursuit of a life of harmony, meditation and community service.

Over time, the group diversified its activities. A report in The New York Times describes 'Akal Security' as one of the US's fastest-growing security companies, with 12,000 employees and over $1 billion in federal contracts. Daya Singh Khalsa, co-founder of Akal Security, has been quoted by the paper as saying: "Our customers look at who we are and filter it all out. They couldn't be less interested in our religion and what we look alike."