A man and a woman who were friends in college decided to catch up over coffee but the reunion ended with the woman alleging that she had been molested and locked in a guest house on Thursday night.

Police rescued the woman from a Madurdaha guest house after she alerted her mother, who called up the police control room in Lalbazar. Anirudhha Panja, the young woman’s friend when they were in college, has been arrested.

“The woman’s mother was not sure how she could respond to her daughter’s distress call and help her.... She called up Lalbazar and the police station was immediately alerted,” an officer said.

“We have learnt that Panja, a resident of Liluah in Howrah, and she were classmates in college. She has said she was unsure of his intentions.”

Initial investigations showed he had asked the woman to meet him at Sealdah station. The two met around 5.30pm, the police said.

In her complaint she has alleged he insisted they go to a guest house in Madurdaha and booked an app cab.

After an exchange of pleasantries over tea and snacks at the guest house, Panja apparently told her that he was feeling cold and locked the door of the room.

He then molested her and refused to let her go if she raised the alarm, she has alleged in her complaint.

The woman said she pleaded with Panja to let her go before calling up her mother from the toilet.

A team of officers from Anandapur police station reached the guest house around 9.30pm and rescued the woman and arrested Panja.

“We will question the man to try and find out his motive... whether there was any other design behind locking up the woman,” the officer said.

“We want to know why he chose the guest house in Madurdaha and did not go to any coffee shop in Sealdah. We will also speak to the manager of the guest house and find out whether Panja had checked in there before.”