The Bengal government today decided to lift the ban on Internet services across the Darjeeling hills.

"Normalcy in the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong has been restored with the active participation of the residents of the two districts. Shops, business establishments and tea gardens have opened in both the districts. The newly formed GTA (board of administrators) has started functioning effectively," Anuj Sharma, the additional director-general of police (law and order), said in a statement.

"The residents of the two districts are now getting actively involved in the religious festivities centring Durga Puja leading to normalcy in the region. Keeping in mind these facts the State administration has decided to lift the restrictions on use of internet in the two hill districts," he added.