A religious sect of warrior Sikhs has expressed its desire to help and protect starlet Monica Bedi, recently extradited from Portugal with her companion mobster Abu Salam, provided she doesn't go back to him.

Nihang Sikhs - armed Sikh warriors - from the Tarna Dal made an offer this week to Monica's paternal uncle Purshottam Bedi that they could extend help to her if she gave an assurance about ending her association with the underworld.

The offer even included the provision of armed Nihang guards to Monica whenever she is released on bail to protect her from Abu Salem and other gangsters.

Representatives of the sect led by Hari Singh of Punjab's Hoshiarpur district met Monica's uncle at his native village Chhabewal Sunday and expressed the desire to help.

Monica Bedi was born in the same village in 1975 but her family migrated to Norway. Her uncle remained in the village and lives a modest life.

The Nihang sect has not only offered financial aid to Monica, but also help in getting legal aid to represent her in passport forgery cases that she is facing in Hyderabad and Bhopal.

Monica's uncle met her last week in a Hyderabad prison where she is being held and returned to Chhabewal Saturday. He said the family would try its best to help her and she had told him that she never married Abu Salem.

The Nihang sect, however, asked Monica's uncle to get an assurance from her that she would not go back to Abu Salem or the underworld or the film industry whenever she is released.

Abu Salem, who is the accused in a string of crimes including the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai that killed 257 people, was extradited with Monica from Portugal earlier this month following a long and protracted legal battle mounted by India.