Calcutta: Doctors got some unexpected support from cops on Thursday when Calcutta police posted on its Facebook page that doctors, like other professionals, can commit "mistakes in isolation" and it's wrong to hold the entire medical community guilty.

The post also announced that a poster stating doctors are friends of the society and assaulting them can lead to imprisonment for up to 10 years, would be installed at private and government hospitals. By afternoon, the poster had been put up several city hospitals.

The move was seen by some doctors and private hospital officials as an attempt to the private health-care sector's confidence in the state government. The relationship between private hospitals and the Trinamul government has been strained ever since the health regulatory commission was formed on chief minister Mamata Banerjee's instruction.

"Those who are doing business well will get government support. Those who are not will be punished," the chief minister had said.

The poster shared by Calcutta police on its official Facebook page on Thursday declares doctors are friends of the society and assaulting them a punishable offence that could invite 10 years in jail.

"Isolated mistakes may occur in all professions. Be it police or doctor, journalism or teaching. It's not right to hold the entire community guilty because of that (isolated mistake). We have decided to install the poster given below at all private and government hospitals in Calcutta," the Facebook post accompanying the poster stated.

There have been several instances of patients' relatives assaulting doctors in both private and government hospitals recently.

Doctors welcomed the police campaign.

"The initiative of Calcutta police is exemplary. However, it would have been better if this was done earlier. Safety and dignity in the workplace is essential to perform duties adequately. I am sure such steps will help improve the working atmosphere in medical institutions," surgical oncologist Gautam Mukhopadhyay said.

"The Calcutta police initiative gives us lot of confidence. The police are now mich more proactive in reacting to our complaints of violence," said Sudipta Mitra, chief executive of Peerless Hospital.

Belle Vue CEO Pradip Tondon said the post would send a positive message to hospitals and doctors.

Some doctors said they had no faith in the government after the way they have been treated by the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission at hearings.

"At times, the commission members have been extremely impolite. I have been taunted for charging a fee of Rs 1,000," said a doctor who went for a few hearings after a patient's relatives had filed a complaint against him and the private hospital he works for. "My fee had nothing to do with the complaint." he said.