The victims of the Panvel orphanage abuse case, who are presently housed at a shelter home in Mankhurd, were on several occasions shifted from one place to another fearing threat and harm to the girls, sources said.
The sources revealed that there were attempts during the trial to threaten and traumatise the witnesses, following which they were shifted from Kalyani Mahila Bal Seva Sanstha, the Panvel-based orphanage.
The 19 minor girls were housed at separate shelter homes after the case came to light and were treated for their injuries and given psychological help, the sources said.
They added that the victims were so traumatised that it was only after they saw the accused arrested on television that they were relieved enough to narrate their experience at the orphanage.