New York: Sikhs in the United States have fused their traditional knowledge with modern skills to emerge as the country's fastest growing group providing security to sensitive Government sites ranging from water supply systems to military installations.

The Akal Security, wholly owned by the Sikh Dharma community based in Espanola in New Mexico, is the largest provider of security officers for federal courthouses with contracts for 400 buildings across 44 States, including the federal courthouse in Manhattan.

Benefiting from the post-9/11 surge in security, the Akal, which now employs over 12,000 people and has landed federal contracts worth over $1 billion.

A testimony to the company's expertise can be the recent contract it won to guard Army bases and munition dumps in eight States.

Akal Security is the only security company that is owned by a non-profit religious organisation, a 'New York Times' report said.

The Sikh Dharma community, founded in early 1970s, has American-converts as its members, who blend New Age values and orthodox Sikhism. It provides as place where admirers of Yogi Bhajan, a Sikh spiritual leader and yoga master, can live in harmony and follow their beliefs in vegetarianism, meditation and community service, the report said.

"Our customers look at who we are and filter it all out," said Daya Singh Khalsa, Akal's co-founder and senior vice-president told the 'Times'.