India, Aug. 13 -- A generator providing power backup to the regional transport office (RTO) and deputy commissioner's office was stolen from the Mini Secretariat, with the complainant suspecting that a crane may have been used to lift the heavy equipment from the premises, raising serious questions over security at the high-security government complex.

The theft came to light after Amardeep Singh, a junior assistant at the Ludhiana RTO, reported the matter to police on July 26.

He told investigators that the generator installed outside the RTO office for power backup was missing and suspected that it may have been lifted and removed using a crane.

The Mini Secretariat houses offices of senior officials of the district administration an...