Construction of the plant has been delayed by protests in the past year by residents and antinuclear groups concerned about safety following the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in Japan last year.

The Tamil Nadu state government said police fired to disperse about 2,000 people who were demonstrating against the loading of nuclear fuel in the Russian-built reactor. It said five officers were injured when the protesters threw stones and sticks at police near the Kudankulam Atomic Power Project.

CHENNAI, India — Police fired on protesters Monday near a nuclear power plant being constructed in southern India, killing one person, officials said.


The government has said the plant, about 440 miles south of Chennai, the state capital, will meet safety standards.

In Jerusalem on Monday, a group of survivors from the Hiroshima atomic bomb attack held a protest calling for an end to nuclear weapons. The group visited Jerusalem holy sites and held signs reading ‘‘Nuclear Abolition’’ in Japanese.

In 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, leading to Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II. The blast destroyed most of the city and killed as many as 140,000 people.

Hiroshima survivor Nagayama Iwao, 69, said that ‘‘any use of the atom [bomb] should be forbidden, even for intimidation.’’

The visit comes amid growing tensions between Israel and Iran over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

Israel and much of the West believe Iran is seeking nuclear weapons.

An Israeli official said Monday that Washington’s refusal to issue an ultimatum to Iran over its nuclear program brings Tehran closer to producing an atomic bomb.

Israel has been pushing for the international community to give Iran ‘‘clear red lines’’ with regard to the disputed program.