Airtel — my sim card number not activated then given to someone else

Address:	New Delhi, Delhi
Website:	airtel.in

I am a foreign student from europe studying in delhi since 2015. I have renewed my student visa in oct 2017. The competent government authorities took 3 weeks for this process - which meant that my visa expired on 28th oct 2017 and i received the renewal on the 7th nov 2017. I submitted my new visa to airtel immediately as well as the application for the reactivation of my number. They told me at the shop it will take 3-4 days. 3 weeks later after numerous calls and visits there they told me there was a problem and that my number will be reactivated in 24 hrs. It is now january 2018. The new simcard they gave me still has no network and hence cannot call 59059. Today i called my old number[protected] and someone else answered on it. Which means airtel allocated my number to someone else. This means, all my accounts, including the government of india will call this number and give sensitive information to a complete stranger.

The rules say that you have 1 month to complete the application for renewal. I did it as soon as i have received the visa. I even went the day of my submission of visa renewal application with the document frro provides to ask airtel to not disconnect my services as i am waiting for the renewal of visa. The government officials said that paper was enough to ensure my phone number stays activated but the airtel people in the shop said only visa can work.

I am now stuck in a foreign country with no phone number - i am using a friend's phone number. My embassy and the bank and all my contacts are trying to contact me on this number and i am having a lot of issues. Please help me get my number back this is unacceptable. I have done everything according to procedures yet this level of low service that plays with my security and government laws is not ok. I will be forced to make this a diplomatic issue and report it in the court of law as well as to the media.