Captain B. Neelakantan Nanjunda Rao of 3 Engineer Regiment was deployed in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force. As commander of an engineer task force, providing intimate support to 16 Sikh in its advance on 19 October 1987, the officer exhibited exceptional courage and devotion to duty. His task force cleared 83 improvised mines in the face of continuous and heavy militant fire. Despite being wounded rendered temporarily unconscious by severe loss of blood, he never wavered in his mission. The next day he was badly injured a second time by a mine blast. With determination and courage, he kept on performing his task, thus ensuring an early accomplishment of his battalion's task with minimal casualties. 

Captain B. Neelakantan Nanjunda Rao displayed conspicuous gallantry, exceptional courage and devotion to duty in utter disregard to his personal safety.