The number of people held for violence in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad district in Punjab rose to 158 after police arrested another 30 suspects for their alleged involvement in ransacking the churches and homes of the Christian community, officials said on Saturday.

A violent mob of hundreds on August 16, had vandalised and torched the worship places of the Christian community in Jaranwala and also attacked their houses.

An initial report of property loss stated that at least 19 churches and 86 houses were torched during the rampage.

IG Punjab Usman Anwar visited the affected areas on Friday and said that Punjab police were focusing on the immediate restoration of houses and churches.

He assured the Christian community of foolproof security and vowed to provide free education and facilities to the children of the affected Christian community in Police Welfare Schools.

A Voice of Christians International (VCI) filed the petition in the Supreme Court urging it take notice of the tragic incident of Jaranwala.

Life in Jaranawala returned to normalcy on Saturday with most of the victims returning to their home on Friday, but police and the paramilitary Rangers were still patroling the streets.