During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Mohankumar Prabhakar Samant, as a pilot in a Fighter Bomber Squadron, carried out a number of operational missions deep inside enemy territory despite heavy ground fire and air oppositions. He took aerial photographs of Sargodha airfield which was heavily defended and brought back information of immense value to the Army and the Air Force for further planning. On the 6th December, 1971, he carried out two interdiction missions over Laila Musa marshalling yard and destroyed a railway engine and ten bogies of a goods train carrying military stores and thus prevented the enemy in getting the supply of ammunition. During one of these missions, he cut off the lines of communication of the enemy. On the 8th and 9th December, 1971, he led two successful strike missions over Chander and Walton airfields and caused extensive damage to the runway and the dispersal area. He also photographed the Ichogal Canal and the Chhamb area west of river Tawi and brought back photographs of great operational value.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Mohankumar Prabhakar Samant displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.