Early in 1989, the 6/8 Gorkha Rifles commanded by Colonel Vijay Kumar Bakshi joined the Indian Peace Keeping force in Sri Lanka. On the 2nd March, the Regiment encountered a militant camp on the Nayaroo lagoon in Wanni and engaged the enemy.

The fight dragged on for over 24 hours. Col. Bakshi despite nursing an injury received in an earlier battle led his men courageously and confidently. He maintained unrelenting pressure on the militants lost several men but while retreating one of their bullets hit the Colonel, mortally wounding him.

For his courage and determination in the face of adversity, Colonel Bakshi was posthumously honoured with the Mahavir Chakra